Tralee to face Kanturk in Pierce Purcell final

TRALEE and Kanturk will meet in the West Munster area final of this year’s Pierce Purcell Shield after both clubs qualified from their respective groups over the last weekend.

I was very close to getting it 100% right with my predictions and I did correctly predict Tralee and Ballybunion to meet in their section final and that Kanturk with home advantage would beat Killarney in their section final so here’s how it happened.

Beginning at Kanturk on Saturday morning I correctly predicted wins for Killarney over Newcastlewest (3.5 to 1.5), Kenmare over Glengarriff (3.5 to 1.5) and Kanturk over Beaufort (4-1) but Ring of Kerry beat Doneraile (4-1) after I had tipped the Cork club for a win.

In the afternoon, Killarney beat Kenmare (4-1) as predicted and Kanturk beat Ring of Kerry (3.5 to 1.5) with Kanturk going on to beat Killarney in Sunday morning’s final by four matches to one.

In the other qualifier at Ballyheigue Castle on Saturday, I correctly predicted wins for Tralee over Killorglin (3.5 to 1.5), Ballyheigue over Castleisland (3-2) and Ballybunion over Ceann Sibéal (3.5 to 1.5) but Castlegregory upset my grand slam by beating Dooks (3.5 to 1.5).

On Sunday morning as predicted, Tralee beat Ballyheigue (3.5 to 1.5) and Ballybunion beat Castlegregory (3.5 to 1.5) but in the afternoon final, Tralee were never troubled by my home club, winning the top three matches by 4/3, 8/6 and 3/2.

Tralee will now play Kanturk in the West Munster area final at Newcastlewest on Thursday June 7.

The Castleisland team that won the Jimmy Bruen Shield West Munster Area Final