Just wondering if anyone is interested in predicting the winners in other counties of their club championships. We can re-visit this thread then come the winter months and see how we got on. I'll start with counties I know a bit about regards the local scene. The further I get down the less I know about the club scene in those counties.
Limerick- By all accounts Kilmallock are the stand out team with Na Piarsaigh and Adare the main threats but I'll stick with Kilmallock
Tipperary- Has to be Thurles Sarsfields with probably Toomevara the team to meet them in the final.
Clare- Probably the most wide open championship of the top tier hurling counties but seemingly Sixmilebridge have a nice team so I'll go with them. Very hard to judge that championship as it hasn't started yet.
Kilkenny- With Shefflin back it has to be Ballyhale Shamrocks. O'Loughlin's could be scarred after St.Patrick's Day
Galway- The break will surely have helped Portumna and I'd fancy them to bounce back this year. Clarinbridge with the two Kerins a year older mighn't have it in them to go again. Loughrea aren't good enough.
Wexford- Oulart the Ballagh handy by all accounts.
I'll let lads who know more about Cork, Dublin, Laois, Westmeath etc to comment on those. Probably Ballyboden St. Enda's in Dublin as per usual.
Senior Championships in other counties
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kinnittyman
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old yellar
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Re: Senior Championships in other counties
carlow - hard to luck past mount leinster rangers
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Plain of the Herbs
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Dublin SHC semi-finals tonight
Just in from the Dublin SC semi-finals in Parnell Park tonight.
O’Toole’s beat St Brigid’s 1-17 to 0-15 in a tame enough first semi-final. O’Toole’s Danny Webster (I think) scored a goal on the stroke of half-time to lead 1-10 to 0-11 at the break, though Brigid’s missed a great chance of a goal a few minutes before that when Kieran Kellett got in behind the defence but shot straight at goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin.
It could have gone either way at that stage but O’Toole’s took over completely in the second half and opened up a decent lead by the time their full-back Michael Cunningham was sent off on a straight red card for a late charge in an inrunning forward. Two late St Brigid’s points made it 1-17 to 0-15. Laoisman John O’Loughlin scored four points but two of those came very late on when the game was gone from them. Michael Carton and Liam Ryan were best for O’Toole’s.
Taking a leaf from Coolderry, Ballyboden St Enda’s got straight down to business when Paul Ryan finished a goal in the opening minute. ‘Boden didn’t really open up though and again it was poor enough fare. Helped by ‘Boden withdrawing their half-forward line out to around the midfield mark and some good ball using Simon Lambert as a target-man, Paul Ryan found the space inside to fire three fine points from play. Ryan added three pointed frees from distance. Peter Kelly got the going tough at full-back and Lucan moved him to wing-back before half time in a bid to bring him into the game. Result? A ruck in front of their goal should have been cleared and when it wasn’t Conor McCormack finished a goal on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-7 to 0-2 at the break.
Another ‘Boden goal came just after the restart but ‘Boden never really assumed control of the game. John McCaffrey came into it at midfield and slowly Lucan picked off the points. 3-7 to 0-2 became 3-9 to 0-8 with about 10 minutes left, a fella called Trevor Lee scored two fine points. When sub Chris Crummy scored a goal for Lucan there was hope at 3-9 to 1-8. Liam Hogan, who had watched the match from the top row of the stand (wearing a bainisteoir bib and carrying a hurl) moved to the sideline to lend encouragement. ‘Boden scored two goals in quick succession and I headed for home with less than ten minutes left and it was 5-9 to 1-8.
Ballyboden should beat O’Toole’s by about 10 points on this evening’s evidence. The hurling was poor enough, and the second semi-final wasn’t much better than the first. Truth to tell, both Offaly semi-finals were more enjoyable. There was none of the Dublin style fielding and passing movements and support play. Indeed, St Brigid’s and O’Toole’s played more like Offaly teams would. I expected someone like Daire Plunkett to stand out but he didn’t.
Where does that leave Coolderry? I’d have been sceptical about Cooldery’s chances prior to this evening, however I think they have a right good chance of progressing. Alan Corcoran would handle Paul Ryan, Trevor will be fine on Simon Lambert (who started at full-forward). If Coolderry were represented this evening they will have got a good look at how the ‘Boden attack lines up. Parnell Park was in excellent condition too, which will suit Coolderry. Ballyboden still have to negotiate O’Toole’s and Clonkill, but then you see Coolderry native Liam Hogan in charge of ‘Boden and you know it’s written in the stars. Coolderry and Ballyboden will collide next month.
O’Toole’s beat St Brigid’s 1-17 to 0-15 in a tame enough first semi-final. O’Toole’s Danny Webster (I think) scored a goal on the stroke of half-time to lead 1-10 to 0-11 at the break, though Brigid’s missed a great chance of a goal a few minutes before that when Kieran Kellett got in behind the defence but shot straight at goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin.
It could have gone either way at that stage but O’Toole’s took over completely in the second half and opened up a decent lead by the time their full-back Michael Cunningham was sent off on a straight red card for a late charge in an inrunning forward. Two late St Brigid’s points made it 1-17 to 0-15. Laoisman John O’Loughlin scored four points but two of those came very late on when the game was gone from them. Michael Carton and Liam Ryan were best for O’Toole’s.
Taking a leaf from Coolderry, Ballyboden St Enda’s got straight down to business when Paul Ryan finished a goal in the opening minute. ‘Boden didn’t really open up though and again it was poor enough fare. Helped by ‘Boden withdrawing their half-forward line out to around the midfield mark and some good ball using Simon Lambert as a target-man, Paul Ryan found the space inside to fire three fine points from play. Ryan added three pointed frees from distance. Peter Kelly got the going tough at full-back and Lucan moved him to wing-back before half time in a bid to bring him into the game. Result? A ruck in front of their goal should have been cleared and when it wasn’t Conor McCormack finished a goal on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-7 to 0-2 at the break.
Another ‘Boden goal came just after the restart but ‘Boden never really assumed control of the game. John McCaffrey came into it at midfield and slowly Lucan picked off the points. 3-7 to 0-2 became 3-9 to 0-8 with about 10 minutes left, a fella called Trevor Lee scored two fine points. When sub Chris Crummy scored a goal for Lucan there was hope at 3-9 to 1-8. Liam Hogan, who had watched the match from the top row of the stand (wearing a bainisteoir bib and carrying a hurl) moved to the sideline to lend encouragement. ‘Boden scored two goals in quick succession and I headed for home with less than ten minutes left and it was 5-9 to 1-8.
Ballyboden should beat O’Toole’s by about 10 points on this evening’s evidence. The hurling was poor enough, and the second semi-final wasn’t much better than the first. Truth to tell, both Offaly semi-finals were more enjoyable. There was none of the Dublin style fielding and passing movements and support play. Indeed, St Brigid’s and O’Toole’s played more like Offaly teams would. I expected someone like Daire Plunkett to stand out but he didn’t.
Where does that leave Coolderry? I’d have been sceptical about Cooldery’s chances prior to this evening, however I think they have a right good chance of progressing. Alan Corcoran would handle Paul Ryan, Trevor will be fine on Simon Lambert (who started at full-forward). If Coolderry were represented this evening they will have got a good look at how the ‘Boden attack lines up. Parnell Park was in excellent condition too, which will suit Coolderry. Ballyboden still have to negotiate O’Toole’s and Clonkill, but then you see Coolderry native Liam Hogan in charge of ‘Boden and you know it’s written in the stars. Coolderry and Ballyboden will collide next month.
Pat Donegan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.
"Offaly's hurling is exact and abrasive: full of assurance on the ball, devoid of fumbling and slicing and sod-busting". Kevin Cashman RIP (September 1994).
"Offaly's hurling is exact and abrasive: full of assurance on the ball, devoid of fumbling and slicing and sod-busting". Kevin Cashman RIP (September 1994).