Laois Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship round three previews and predictions

For the majority of the sides in the Premier Intermediate grade, this weekend they will play their final group games of this year's championship. For Clonaslee St Manman's and Ballyfin, it's only their second games as they'll do battle in their rescheduled round three game on August 31.

Group A is still wide open coming into this weekend as three sides have two points to their name while Slieve Bloom are rooted to the bottom of the table following defeats to Ballyfin and Clough-Ballacolla's second team. They're tasked with playing last year's finalists Clonaslee St Manman's as they look to avoid the relegation final having stayed up against Trumera in last year's relegation final. A win for Ballyfin over Clough-Ballacolla and a victory for Clonaslee over Slieve Bloom would leave their final game being a straight shootout for top spot and thus claim a spot in the semi-finals. 

Group B's games are two winner takes all games as Portlaoise and Ballinakill go toe to toe with the winner securing a semi-final place and top spot while the loser will come second and drop to the quarter-finals. The other game in the group holds similar significance as two second teams collide with Rathdowney-Errill facing Camross. The winner of this game will take third spot while the loser will face a relegation final. The Portlaoise and Ballinakill game is a repeat of the ACHL Division Two final which saw Tommy Fitzgerald's side claim victory and return to the top table of the ACHL. 

See the full fixtures and predictions below.

Thursday August 17

Portlaoise v Ballinakill at 7.15pm in LOETB Centre of Excellence. Prediction: Portlaoise

Friday August 18

Clough-Ballacolla v Ballyfin at 7pm in Mountrath. Prediction: Ballyfin

Camross v Rathdowney-Errill at 7.15pm in LOETB Centre of Excellence. Prediction: Camross

Sunday August 20

Clonaslee St Manman's v Slieve Bloom at 12pm in Mountmellick. Prediction: Clonaslee St Manman's