Ballyfin v Ballinakill semi-final preview and prediction

This weekend sees the first of this year's Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals take place. The clash of Ballyfin and Ballinakill takes centre on Saturday evening with Ballinakill hoping to make an instant return to the Senior grade following their extra-time loss to The Harps in last year's Senior Relegation Final.

The sides have met already this year as Ballinakill recorded a 4-15 to 2-15 victory over Saturday's opponents in the fifth round of the ACHL Division 2. Their last championship meeting was in 2021 as the sides clashed in the decider with Ballinakill winning on that occasion too.

Ballyfin will come into this game refreshed and recharged as they've enjoyed a four-week break since their last group game against Clonaslee St Manman's. They topped their group and in turn went straight through to the semi-finals. Ballinakill, on the other hand, had to go through a quarter-final with Clough-Ballacolla after two late goals from Portlaoise saw them take top-spot in Group B. They sailed past the challenge of Clough-Ballacolla to set up the Ballyfin clash.

On the other side of the draw, Portlaoise will play their semi-final on Tuesday evening with Clonaslee St Manman's and Rathdowney-Errill's quarter-final due to be played this evening following a scoreline error in the original game.

Ballyfin will face Ballinakill on Saturday, September 23 at 6.30pm in Laois Hire O'Moore Park. Prediction: Ballinakill