you could do worse than to tip to semi finals next saturday Aristotle
Ballygunner beat Turloughmore by 6 in Thurles last night. This would qualify as an āHors Categorieā or beyond classification clash on the BOICMC.
Leavy and Peter Hogan ran the show for BG while Daithi Burke impressed for Turloughmore. Both sides more or less at full strength.
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Any BOICMC happening next week? Iāll be home and wouldnāt mind finding one
Ballygunner were missing Dessie anyway but still had the bones of 40 togged.
The weird and wonderful world of the BOICMC often means its too late when notifications of these clashes comes through.
Plenty Tipp Club Championship to keep you ticking over though next weekend.
Jaysus you called his bluff there
I think Doon might have a big one lined up next week but these things are always subject to change.
Iāve Friday in Cashel pencilled in anyway
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A quick turnaround for Gameday 2 in the Dublin SHC this Saturday. Any of the @Corkies or @Bannermen in Dublin on the day and looking for a hurling fix seen as the 7ās is as good as gone could do a lot worse than taking in the Parnell Park double header.
Group 1.
Lucan vs Cuala - Oā Toole Pk 5-30pm
Lucan had a bye in the opening round so got a good look at their group opponents. They have steadily been building in recent years with solid underage success. Johhny McCaffrey has retired and Cork import Chris O Leary has emigrated. Chris and Paul Crummy lead the defence snd attack respectively. The Walshs, Luke and Colm are solid operators. Ben Coffey was the best club forward in Dublin last year. Charlie Keher is another that takes minding. Cuala were flattered by their 7 point loss vs Crokes last Saturday. A combination of good goalkeeping by Sean Brennan and poor shooting from Crokes kept them in it. There are now only two outfield players from their AI winning teams playing namely Jake Malone and Colm Cronin, both of whom whose best days are behind them. I fancy Lucan to come through here and give this championship a good lash.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Na Fianna - Parnell Pk 5-30pm
This is undoubtedly the game of the weekend with two teams that should figure highly in @peddlerscross eagerly awaited Power Rankings. They met in county finals of 21 + 22 with Crokes getting over the line both days. Na Fianna exacted a bit of revenge last year accounting for them in a QF on their way to winning the county. Na Fianna probably have the best 15 in the county when all fit and firing while Crokes definately have the best squad. Both teams had comfortable wins last weekend but neither had a full compliment of players. I doubt this will be a shadow boxing exercise with both outfits too proud. A win for either guarantees qualification to the next round. Too hard a game to call.
Group 2:
Craobh Chiarain vs St Judes - Oā Toole Pk 3-30
After opening round losses for both this is essentially do or die for both teams. This is a repeat of the Senior B final from last year which Craobh won by a goal. Judes had the better first day outing being competitive with Vincents. Craobh took a first half pummelling from Whitehall. Judes struggle for scores while Craobh are poor at the back. It really is a battle of which team can get the best out of their weak points. Outside of Sutcliffe, Craobh probably have better individual players but Judes are a more even team. Iāll give Judes the nod here.
Ballyboden vs St Vincents - Parnell Pk 3:30pm
This is the opening act of the attractive Parnell Pk double header. This of a repeat of last years semi final. On that day Boden prevailed in an exciting finish. An injury time in extra time penalty miss from Tomo Connolly got them over the line. Vins opened their season with a win. Raising flags seems to their problem. Plenty of shots but not on target. A tigerish workrate keeps oppposition scoring low. This is Bodens first day out. Last year they leant on a Dads army. They have a few transfers in but will still be relying on Lambert, McMorrow, Dooley, Ryan and Hammersley. Iām going with Vins to exact a bit of revenge for last years semi final loss.
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Whatās the gap like between the A and the B now?
There are kind of two tiers in the A. Crokes, Naf, Lucan, Boden and Vins would absolutely batter any B teams. However Brigids, Whitehall, Judes and Craobh would all be favourites in a game vs B teams but could easily get turned over. Cuala are in limbo.
The B will be competitive this year. Plunketts will be favourites. Faughs, Barrog and Raheny would be next strongest. Castleknock and Balinteer would be good too if they have everyone.
I donāt like the 2 up, 2down scenario. 1 is enough in ten team championships.
Keaney and Durkan gone ? Wasnāt there a Mellett playing with Dublin ?
Keaney and Durkin retired is what I heard. Mellet wasnāt with Dublin this year. Madden was their only senior panelist.
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A belated update on some South-East proceedings from last weekend. The Wexford club hurling championship is still very much in the shadow boxing phase due to this new Kilkenny style format. The game of the weekend was the meeting of the two most recent champions Naomh Ćanna and Ferns, which finished in a 1-20 to 0-23 draw. Cathal Dunbar rescuing a draw for the Gorey side after James Lawlor saved a late penalty. A fully fit Gavin Bailey is a big addition to the Ferns team. James Tonks now hurling with their second team who drew with Duffry Rovers in the Junior. The other Group A games saw Glynn-Barntown pip Oulart 1-20 to 0-22 thanks to a last gasp John Leacy point and St Anneās romped past Crossabeg-Ballymurn with 10 points to spare (4-21 to 0-22). Kyle Kennedy scoring 1-3 from play for the victors who are moving very well at this early stage.
In Group B, Shels pipped St Martinās by a point in abnormally low-scoring affair (1-9 to 0-11). Jack Oā Connor only appearing for the final 10 minutes paints a picture about the more relaxed nature of these group games. Faythe Harriers had a fine 7 point victory against last yearās beaten finalists Oylegate (1-21 to 0-17). Richie Lawlor with the goal for the JJ Doyle managed outfit. The surprising result of the weekend was undoubtedly in the Cloughbawn v Rapps clash where Cloughbawn ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 2-21 to 0-14. Connal Flood produced a Tour De France with 2-5 from play. A pity weāve seen so little of him at senior inter-county level in recent years. Still no sign of Liam Ryan for the Rapps which suggests that he wouldnāt have been available for an All-Ireland semi-final in any case.
Moving on to Intermediate where Shane Murphy scored a mammoth 2-14 as St Jamesā ousted Gusserane (2-24 to 1-13). Some posters may remember him from the 2015 Leinster U21 final against Kilkenny. Last years beaten Intermediate finalists appear to be moving well in the early stages. Elsewhere, Buffers Alley pulled clear to beat Taghmon 0-19 to 0-12, Craanford drew with Blackwater and Askamore made it 2/2 with a 5 point win against Tara Rocks. Bunclody beat Fethard 2-21 to 2-13, although Cian Byrne and John Turbritt were suspended and missed that game. Rathnure and Horeswood clashed in championship for the first time since 1967 with the result going along expected lines. Rathnure resounding victors (2-28 to 1-17).
Geraldine Oā Hanrahans had an impressive victory against Cushinstown in the Intermediate A. 1-23 to 2-16. The 2019 finalists are 2/2 now. As are Cushinstown who beat Oulartās 2nd strong outfit by 5 points. Monageer ousted Shels by 7 and Liam Mellows sent out another statement of intent when cruising past Adamstown on a 2-20 to 0-13 scoreline. Itāll be interesting to see if the dual season slows their momentum a slight bit. St Martinās second string had a surprisingly comfortable victory against Ballygarrett (2-18 to 1-9).
The Round Robin phase in Carlow comes to a close this weekend. Ballinkillen will be watching anxiously with their fate now out of their hands following a 3-23 to 4-17 defeat against St Mullins. Mouse Kavanagh with 3-1 haul on his return from injury. MLR hammered Bagenalstown by 0-24 to 0-9 in the other game. A result which leaves Muine Bheag under pressure heading into their game against St Mullins. As if stands Myshall will be eliminated on 2 points and is likely to stay this way unless they beat Rangers for the first time in over a decade. When did they last beat MLR @ChairmanDan? Possibly 2014 as I have it in my head that St Mullins beat Myshall in the final that year.
The football gets underway in Wexford this weekend as the Clay Court split season is no more. Shels, Castletown and Kilanerin would be the 3 favourites with St Anneās as a darkhorse. Iād opt for Naomh Ćanna to go straight back down as Iād imagine theyāll mainly focus on hurling this summer/autumn and will be weakened as a result. St Martinās will be favourites again for the Intermediate football title. Negligence that a team with that much underage success find themselves in Intermediate. Fethard and Horeswood will keep them honest.
The Wicklow football championship commenced last weekend too. Rathnew ousting AGB was probably the standout result. The Arklow based team are yet to win a Miley Cup (Senior) despite plenty of underage success in recent times. An TĆ³char are another team brimming with young potential and were apparently very impressive in a 7 point victory against Baltinglass (3-13 to 1-12). Elsewhere Tinahealy and Blessington drew in their opening round clash. A very difficult championship to predict these days. Itās become very open.
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https://twitter.com/KK_GAA/status/1814387239633428957?t=h4KydwMrmHdbM1g5_KXsrA&s=19
They are coming like a train cc @myboyblue
I think Ballinamere will catch them this year.
They are indeed. No one will touch them. Always great to see Tullamore handed their holes too
Ballinkillen are comfortably the 3rd best team this year and the only threat to the Big 2. They should be okay to advance but they are at risk if both St Mullins and Rangers take a breather and both lose to Bagenalstown and Myshall. Unlikely.
Fiachra Fitzpatrick is back from the US and was eligible to play this weekend. Apparently he picked up a red on the sideline last week against Bagenalstown. Not sure of length of any suspension.
Ballinkillen v Myshall in Round 1 ended in a big melee. Myshall player sent off in it appealed and got red card rescinded on video evidence. Video evidence resulted in a Ballinkillen player getting a two match ban for an incident referee didnāt spot. County Board only moved against him though after Round 2 and 3 were played so now heās faced with missing County Semi Final.
Myshall dethroned Rangers as Carlow and Leinster champions in 2014 semi final. I think that is the last time they beat them.
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No chance
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40 togged for a challenge match??
Yes they are carrying a big squad between their Seniors and inters at the moment but everyone knows the first 15 will remain exactly the same as previous years.