Sat 16/09/2006
S.H.C.S./F. Birr v Kilcormac/ K. Rath 5.45p.m. T.Carroll
Linesmen : J.Delaney & K.Abbott
I.F.C.Relegation P./O. Daingean v Kilclonfert O Connor Park 5.45p.m. M.Mahon
Sun 17/09/2006
S.H.C.S./F. Coolderry v St. Rynaghs Birr 5.45p.m. B.Gavin
Linesmen : B.Keeshan & P.Freeman
Hurling Semis
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Lone Shark
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Plain of the Herbs
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Semi finals previewed
Big weekend coming up on the domestic hurling front where arguably the four best clubs in Offaly senior hurling face the penultimate hurdle in the race for Sean Robbins.
BIRR v K/K
Interesting that this has been moved from hurling headquarters to Rath. I’ve seen K/K a few times this year and they have been improving steadily in that time. I feel they’ve a great chance of beating Birr for the first time since 1987 (K/K’s first year to field a parish club). They’ve got the spine of their team sorted out, are playing more direct hurling now, and Mark Hand and Martin Murray have particularly impressed. Murray’s clash with Barry Whelahan will be crucial. Up front, Brian Leonard has been particularly impressive, is good in the air and can take a score. If he can take Brian Whelahan for a few scores Birr could be in trouble. K/K are also playing with a much more disciplined attitude, though a team’s newly-found discipline is usually tested to the limit by adversity such as will be provided by Birr. They don’t carry any ageing warriors in their side any more either. Only eight of the side who started the 2002 final were in the quarter final starting 15.
K/K have had a number of good competitive matches since the championship has resumed. They’re a bit like the Laois footballers in this regard, though the Laois footballers found that eventually too many matches can take the ultimate toll. As for Birr, they’ve had to rely on challenge matches, as they’ve not been given a stern test since, probably UCD last year. Even at the peak of their powers during the five-in-a-row run, Birr were given their sternest tests at the semi-final stage, drawing with Coolderry and ‘Rynagh’s in 2001 and 2002 respectively.
I feel K/K are in with a great chance of dethroning the champions on Saturday. However, there’s the nagging doubt that Birr are Birr and, if they can rediscover the appetite for the road, will be able to repel anything K/K will throw at them and repeat the results of the two previous semi finals (1990 and 2003) contested between the two.
COOLDERRY v ST. RYNAGH’S
Another interesting clash fixed for Birr on Sunday evening, if only because recent clashes between the two suggest it. They’ve met three times since Coolderry re-emerged five years ago, drawing twice with a 3 point Coolderry win sandwiched in between. Each was marked out for being a particularly bruising (sometimes bloody) encounter. Interesting that Brian Gavin has been chosen to officiate.
Coolderry will have to improve on their quarter final outing where they clearly weren’t anywhere near full pelt and were very nearly dispatched from the race for this year. We can be sure they will hurl in a much higher gear on Sunday. Barry Teehan didn’t appear against Lusmagh. It will be interesting to see if he will start, and if so, who will make way. David Dooley deputised that evening. Dooley always was (and remains) a fine hurler. Perhaps he should be retained.
Rynagh’s haven’t had a serious test since the summer, beating Shinrone twice. I haven’t seen them first hand at all this year myself, so I’m basing my opinions of them on tradition more than anything else. In days of yore the Banagher cpmplaint was “August already and only 8 up training”. They’d then peak for the semi-final and final. Maybe it’s the Lusmagh man in me, but I can see them peaking over the next month. Not hurling brilliantly pre-August won’t bother them, the draw has been favourable and I feel they will be geared up for this clash. Tradition suggests that if they are as close to Coolderry as Lusmagh were when the game enters the melting pot, they’d be better able than their neigbours to edge out a win. Hubert Rigney won’t be found wanting against Joe Brady, who continues to be the main avenue for Shane O’Connor’s puck out. If Rigney dominates and the Rynaghs’ half back line can close off the space on the Coolderry forwards, Coolderry’s main door to goal will be closed. My guess is Conor Hernon will be delegated to pick up Brian Carroll.
A K/K win the evening before would be a huge boost for both of these. I think Rynagh’s will have the motivation within to just edge it in a tight, tough finish.
BIRR v K/K
Interesting that this has been moved from hurling headquarters to Rath. I’ve seen K/K a few times this year and they have been improving steadily in that time. I feel they’ve a great chance of beating Birr for the first time since 1987 (K/K’s first year to field a parish club). They’ve got the spine of their team sorted out, are playing more direct hurling now, and Mark Hand and Martin Murray have particularly impressed. Murray’s clash with Barry Whelahan will be crucial. Up front, Brian Leonard has been particularly impressive, is good in the air and can take a score. If he can take Brian Whelahan for a few scores Birr could be in trouble. K/K are also playing with a much more disciplined attitude, though a team’s newly-found discipline is usually tested to the limit by adversity such as will be provided by Birr. They don’t carry any ageing warriors in their side any more either. Only eight of the side who started the 2002 final were in the quarter final starting 15.
K/K have had a number of good competitive matches since the championship has resumed. They’re a bit like the Laois footballers in this regard, though the Laois footballers found that eventually too many matches can take the ultimate toll. As for Birr, they’ve had to rely on challenge matches, as they’ve not been given a stern test since, probably UCD last year. Even at the peak of their powers during the five-in-a-row run, Birr were given their sternest tests at the semi-final stage, drawing with Coolderry and ‘Rynagh’s in 2001 and 2002 respectively.
I feel K/K are in with a great chance of dethroning the champions on Saturday. However, there’s the nagging doubt that Birr are Birr and, if they can rediscover the appetite for the road, will be able to repel anything K/K will throw at them and repeat the results of the two previous semi finals (1990 and 2003) contested between the two.
COOLDERRY v ST. RYNAGH’S
Another interesting clash fixed for Birr on Sunday evening, if only because recent clashes between the two suggest it. They’ve met three times since Coolderry re-emerged five years ago, drawing twice with a 3 point Coolderry win sandwiched in between. Each was marked out for being a particularly bruising (sometimes bloody) encounter. Interesting that Brian Gavin has been chosen to officiate.
Coolderry will have to improve on their quarter final outing where they clearly weren’t anywhere near full pelt and were very nearly dispatched from the race for this year. We can be sure they will hurl in a much higher gear on Sunday. Barry Teehan didn’t appear against Lusmagh. It will be interesting to see if he will start, and if so, who will make way. David Dooley deputised that evening. Dooley always was (and remains) a fine hurler. Perhaps he should be retained.
Rynagh’s haven’t had a serious test since the summer, beating Shinrone twice. I haven’t seen them first hand at all this year myself, so I’m basing my opinions of them on tradition more than anything else. In days of yore the Banagher cpmplaint was “August already and only 8 up training”. They’d then peak for the semi-final and final. Maybe it’s the Lusmagh man in me, but I can see them peaking over the next month. Not hurling brilliantly pre-August won’t bother them, the draw has been favourable and I feel they will be geared up for this clash. Tradition suggests that if they are as close to Coolderry as Lusmagh were when the game enters the melting pot, they’d be better able than their neigbours to edge out a win. Hubert Rigney won’t be found wanting against Joe Brady, who continues to be the main avenue for Shane O’Connor’s puck out. If Rigney dominates and the Rynaghs’ half back line can close off the space on the Coolderry forwards, Coolderry’s main door to goal will be closed. My guess is Conor Hernon will be delegated to pick up Brian Carroll.
A K/K win the evening before would be a huge boost for both of these. I think Rynagh’s will have the motivation within to just edge it in a tight, tough finish.
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As Such Ger
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Lone Shark
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I've predicted the K/K breakthrough so many times now I feel like one of those economists that has predicted eight out of the last three recessions. Obviously I haven't seen them hurl this year so any comment I make is speculative to say the least, but even so it's hard not to feel that they're due a big win soon. For a club that doesn't contribute to the county panel in any meaningful way, they have serious depth, so they should be able to avoid having any of the holes that Birr usually exploit in weaker teams. Leonard appears to be a revelation in the half forward line this year, and it's along time since we've seen Birr half backs really troubled.
Gut feeling is this could be the day .....
Gut feeling is this could be the day .....
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Plain of the Herbs
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Well done to the producers of the official programme for the semi-final weekend.
Some useful information therein, including the scorelines for the 21 previous years' semi-finals. Just a personal note but they could have gone back 25 years (to coincide with the 1981 jubilee team) - which would include Lusmagh's debut semi-final appearance in 1982 (beating Kinnitty) and the following year's semi defeat to Rynaghs - of which neither scoreline I have to hand. Maybe next year!
Incidentally, Birr beat Kinnitty in the 1993 semi, not Clareen as stated in that listing.
Some useful information therein, including the scorelines for the 21 previous years' semi-finals. Just a personal note but they could have gone back 25 years (to coincide with the 1981 jubilee team) - which would include Lusmagh's debut semi-final appearance in 1982 (beating Kinnitty) and the following year's semi defeat to Rynaghs - of which neither scoreline I have to hand. Maybe next year!
Incidentally, Birr beat Kinnitty in the 1993 semi, not Clareen as stated in that listing.