Ranking the contenders for the All-Ireland club hurling champonship
Nine sides remain in contention for the Tommy Moore Cup
Tuesday 13 November 2018 09:48, UK
As the race for the Tommy Moore Cup gathers pace, there are nine sides left in contention to be crowned the best club hurling team in the country.
We rank the remaining sides on their likelihood of climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand on St Patrick's Day....
9. Coolderry (Offaly)
The Offaly champions were All-Ireland finalists in 2012, and the experience within the side will ensure they have no fear of a date with Ballyboden in Parnell Park on Sunday. Brian Carroll led the charge as they overcame Mount Leinster Rangers in the quarter-final.
8. Naomh Éanna (Wexford)
The Gorey club are up and running in Leinster after their quarter-final win over Camross. Conor McDonald and co now take on the mighty Ballyhale Shamrocks in the final four. With the tie set for Wexford Park, Naomh Éanna will quietly fancy their chances, and a win would represent yet another step in their remarkable rise from junior six years ago.
7. Liam Mellows (Galway)
The reigning Galway champions were one of many sides to fall to Cuala in recent seasons, but they will have learned from the Semple Stadium defeat last February as they brace themselves for their county-title defence.
6. Cushendall (Antrim)
Up until Sunday, the Antrim county champions had won just one of the last four Ulster titles - upsetting a trend of 42 titles in the previous 45 years.
Nonetheless, Cushendall set the record straight with a resounding win over Ballycran to land provincial honours. The 2016 All-Ireland finalists edged Loughgiel Shamrocks in the county final, and know what it takes to reach the St Patrick's Day decider.
The scoring power of Neil McManus leads what is a capable side, and they will be confident of overcoming any opposition in the All-Ireland semi-final.
5. Ballyboden St Enda's (Dublin)
The Dublin outfit survived a real scare against Clonkill as the Westmeath side brought them to extra-time in the Leinster quarter-final. Nonetheless, they will remain in the familiar surroundings of Parnell Park for their semi-final showdown with Coolderry and will be quietly confident of winning their first provincial title.
4. Ballygunner (Waterford)
Given their dominance of five county titles on the bounce, the Waterford city club are contenders to be considered among the best teams the Déise county has ever produced. However, while De La Salle and Mount Sion have picked up provincial titles since the Gunners' last Munster triumph in 2001, this five-in-a-row winning side are yet to reach an All-Ireland semi-final.
Much of this has been down to Na Piarsaigh. Ballygunner have lost to the Limerick outfit twice in the last three seasons, and Fergal Hartley's charges will be eager to hit back in Thurles on Sunday.
3. Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny)
Regarded by many as the strongest team in Kilkenny in recent years, they were unable to get over the line in the last three seasons. However, the addition of a certain Henry Shefflin as manager proved to be the catalyst as they won their first Kilkenny title in four years.
With TJ Reid, Colin and Michael Fennelly, Richie Reid and Joey Holden, they are not lacking in star quality. A significant number of the side have All-Ireland club medals in their back pocket, and look a dangerous proposition to go far once again.
2. St Thomas' (Galway)
The 2013 All-Ireland champions fell to Ballyea on their last foray outside of Galway two years ago, but there is a school of thought that they are better placed this season should they overcome reigning county champs Liam Mellows.
David Burke and co will know what it takes to get through a winter of hurling, should they overcome the city side.
1. Na Piarsaigh (Limerick)
2017/18 runners-up Na Piarsaigh are hot favourites to regain the crown they won in 2016. The Limerick city side were imperious in their county-title defence, and sent out a message to the rest of the country with a resounding 18-point win over Clonoulty-Rossmore last week.
Having won the Munster Championship four times already this decade, they are no strangers to getting the job done at this time of the year. While there are injury concerns ahead of the provincial decider, they very much remain the team to beat.
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