SHC group stages continues . . .
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:07 pm
The placings in both groups look to be taking shape with only two rounds played.
In group 1, it looks like Kinnitty and St. Rynagh’s will take the two automatic quarter final slots, with Shamrocks and Kilcormac coming third and fourth while Shinrone and Ballyskenagh look set to finish fifth and bottom respectively. Previously, Kinnitty had beaten ‘Skenagh and ’Rynagh’s while ’Rynagh’s themselves beat K/K in the opening round. K/K’s draw with Shamrocks will turn out to be a point dropped as, even if they did beat Kinnitty, the likely wins for ’Rynagh’s in their remaining matches will see the Shannonsiders through. If there is to be a surprise result in the remainder of the series, watch out for Shamrocks and Kinnitty.
Birr will go unbeaten in the other group, while wins for Coolderry over Clareen, Tullamore and Belmont will see them claim the other quarter final spot. The positions of the other four are not as clearcut. Tullamore have only two draws so far, and still have Birr and Coolderry to face, so they’d be favourites to finish bottom. The matches between Clareen and Lusmagh, and Belmont v Tullamore will clarify the situation, though Belmont’s win over Clareen gives them the upperhand in the race for third spot.
With the current ‘Kilkenny’ system, the teams who finish third and fourth in this group will probably face Shamrocks and K/K for a place in a quarter-final while the team who finishes below them in fifth place will in all likelihood face Ballyskenagh and while there’s a risk of relegation for the losers, the winners will progress to the quarter-final. A flaw in the system.
So to this week’s fare. Kilcormac v Kinnitty looks to be the tie of the round on Wednesday evening. Both are missing hurlers currently in the US, though Colm Coughlan is a bigger loss to Kinnitty than Currams is to Kilcormac. K/K bumbled and stuttered in the earlier rounds as their new management attempted to reinvent the wheel, placing Kevin Grogan in attack raising most eyebrows. K/K will enjoy a big height advantage and have the ball-winning artillery to make it count. Whether they will or not is another matter, and they might benefit more if it was Damien Kilmartin who was pucking out.
Kinnitty, though small, are no slouches in the air, James Rigney being particularly adept under the dropping ball, and the kinnitty defence will put the K/K attack under huge pressure once the catcher comes to ground. Enda Grimes, too, is a good hurler and Kinnitty’s half back line usually do a good job of protecting their last line of defence. The Kinnittymen also have a good mixture of grunt and speed in attack. Andrew McRedmond must be due to return after his cruciate injury sustained about this time last year, which would give them another option in attack. Odhran Kealey is a potential match winner in attack and rightly earned a call-up for the county team recently. Kinnitty will hurl with plenty of assurance and belief which should see them through.
Coolderry’s joust with Clareen will be interesting, too. Coolderry will certainly have the speed to trouble Clareen who, while they have an extremely young team, aren’t blessed with anything above average pace. Michael Ryan and Kevin Connolly will certainly exploit this if they can get a decent supply. The Clareenmen need Eanna Murphy and Seán Coughlan to lead the defence, a big ask for a nineteen year old and an eighteen year old, though the pair might do well against Coolderry’s half forward line.
Kevin Brady and Joseph Bergin may well oppose each other. If they do, this is the clash that may well decide it, though Clareen will need James Mulrooney contributing more in terms of ball-winning. The Coolderry full back line is probably their strongest line, where the Corcorans usually do well. Watch out, too, for a Kevin Murray pointed line ball. Ken Hogan is a good coach and if he can’t get it out of them chances are it just isn’t there. A hesitant vote that Coolderry should prevail, but they mightn’t if Clareen are still in it entering the last ten and the younger of the Bergin brothers is producing the stuff.
Elsewhere, Shamrocks get the chance to work on the scoring difference when they take on Ballyskenagh.
Tullamore v Belmont is a repeat of a see-saw clash in Tullamore four years ago. Belmont did well to earn a hard-fought win over Clareen last time out, all the more remarkable as they were sans David Kenny. Kenny is back, and while he may well slot in at midfield opposing Shane Kelly (the blue’s best player against Lusmagh) with Jamie Flynn at centre back, he remains an option to plug any gap that needs filling in defence or attack.
Tullamore haven’t built on their run last year. Gearoid O’Grady is missed from the attack, and the defence is insecure. The tight Mucklagh pitch will cut down the space for the mobile Belmont forwards, but if Kenny, Flynn and Daly get quick ball to the Egans, Belmont will win.
Shinrone have never beaten St. Rynagh’s in the championship. Their minors did beat ’Rynagh’s recently, but there won’t be a senior – minor double and while ’Rynagh’s mightn’t be at full throttle, they’ll with a bit to spare.
Birr are missing a few bodies for their match with Lusmagh which will afford them the opportunity to have a look at some of the intermediate team, particularly in defence, and will win by what they like.
In group 1, it looks like Kinnitty and St. Rynagh’s will take the two automatic quarter final slots, with Shamrocks and Kilcormac coming third and fourth while Shinrone and Ballyskenagh look set to finish fifth and bottom respectively. Previously, Kinnitty had beaten ‘Skenagh and ’Rynagh’s while ’Rynagh’s themselves beat K/K in the opening round. K/K’s draw with Shamrocks will turn out to be a point dropped as, even if they did beat Kinnitty, the likely wins for ’Rynagh’s in their remaining matches will see the Shannonsiders through. If there is to be a surprise result in the remainder of the series, watch out for Shamrocks and Kinnitty.
Birr will go unbeaten in the other group, while wins for Coolderry over Clareen, Tullamore and Belmont will see them claim the other quarter final spot. The positions of the other four are not as clearcut. Tullamore have only two draws so far, and still have Birr and Coolderry to face, so they’d be favourites to finish bottom. The matches between Clareen and Lusmagh, and Belmont v Tullamore will clarify the situation, though Belmont’s win over Clareen gives them the upperhand in the race for third spot.
With the current ‘Kilkenny’ system, the teams who finish third and fourth in this group will probably face Shamrocks and K/K for a place in a quarter-final while the team who finishes below them in fifth place will in all likelihood face Ballyskenagh and while there’s a risk of relegation for the losers, the winners will progress to the quarter-final. A flaw in the system.
So to this week’s fare. Kilcormac v Kinnitty looks to be the tie of the round on Wednesday evening. Both are missing hurlers currently in the US, though Colm Coughlan is a bigger loss to Kinnitty than Currams is to Kilcormac. K/K bumbled and stuttered in the earlier rounds as their new management attempted to reinvent the wheel, placing Kevin Grogan in attack raising most eyebrows. K/K will enjoy a big height advantage and have the ball-winning artillery to make it count. Whether they will or not is another matter, and they might benefit more if it was Damien Kilmartin who was pucking out.
Kinnitty, though small, are no slouches in the air, James Rigney being particularly adept under the dropping ball, and the kinnitty defence will put the K/K attack under huge pressure once the catcher comes to ground. Enda Grimes, too, is a good hurler and Kinnitty’s half back line usually do a good job of protecting their last line of defence. The Kinnittymen also have a good mixture of grunt and speed in attack. Andrew McRedmond must be due to return after his cruciate injury sustained about this time last year, which would give them another option in attack. Odhran Kealey is a potential match winner in attack and rightly earned a call-up for the county team recently. Kinnitty will hurl with plenty of assurance and belief which should see them through.
Coolderry’s joust with Clareen will be interesting, too. Coolderry will certainly have the speed to trouble Clareen who, while they have an extremely young team, aren’t blessed with anything above average pace. Michael Ryan and Kevin Connolly will certainly exploit this if they can get a decent supply. The Clareenmen need Eanna Murphy and Seán Coughlan to lead the defence, a big ask for a nineteen year old and an eighteen year old, though the pair might do well against Coolderry’s half forward line.
Kevin Brady and Joseph Bergin may well oppose each other. If they do, this is the clash that may well decide it, though Clareen will need James Mulrooney contributing more in terms of ball-winning. The Coolderry full back line is probably their strongest line, where the Corcorans usually do well. Watch out, too, for a Kevin Murray pointed line ball. Ken Hogan is a good coach and if he can’t get it out of them chances are it just isn’t there. A hesitant vote that Coolderry should prevail, but they mightn’t if Clareen are still in it entering the last ten and the younger of the Bergin brothers is producing the stuff.
Elsewhere, Shamrocks get the chance to work on the scoring difference when they take on Ballyskenagh.
Tullamore v Belmont is a repeat of a see-saw clash in Tullamore four years ago. Belmont did well to earn a hard-fought win over Clareen last time out, all the more remarkable as they were sans David Kenny. Kenny is back, and while he may well slot in at midfield opposing Shane Kelly (the blue’s best player against Lusmagh) with Jamie Flynn at centre back, he remains an option to plug any gap that needs filling in defence or attack.
Tullamore haven’t built on their run last year. Gearoid O’Grady is missed from the attack, and the defence is insecure. The tight Mucklagh pitch will cut down the space for the mobile Belmont forwards, but if Kenny, Flynn and Daly get quick ball to the Egans, Belmont will win.
Shinrone have never beaten St. Rynagh’s in the championship. Their minors did beat ’Rynagh’s recently, but there won’t be a senior – minor double and while ’Rynagh’s mightn’t be at full throttle, they’ll with a bit to spare.
Birr are missing a few bodies for their match with Lusmagh which will afford them the opportunity to have a look at some of the intermediate team, particularly in defence, and will win by what they like.
