Senior Hurling this weekend

[Plain of the Herbs]

Following the county team’s league run and warm-weather training trip, the county hurling championship kicks off in earnest this week with some interesting ties.

LUSMAGH v BELMONT
This has the makings to be the match of the day between two clubs who combine for the Under 21 championship. Belmont face into the difficult second season as they seek to build further on the progress made in the last two years, both in terms of results and in changing their style away from an outdated, undisciplined one to that of fast, open, direct hurling which suits this team anyway. The element of surprise is now gone however.
Lusmagh are not without difficulties having had to recover from a false start to the year owing to managerial difficulties which are now resolved. They are also missing some key hurlers owing to Australian trips. Rather like last weekend’s Leinster/Munster clash, this could be billed as a clash between the Lusmagh backs and Belmont forwards. Defeat effectively ends the season before the end of April. I’ll give Lusmagh the vote to prolong their season.

BIRR v CLARA
If anyone knows the record winning margin for a senior hurling championship game they might let me know. I’ve a feeling it could be smashed on Sunday.

COOLDERRY v CLAREEN
On first glance, this should be Coolderry’s in a canter. However, on further analysis, last year’s county final showed up deficiencies in the Coolderry midfield and half-forward line, which could be exploited by this Clareen team. On the plus side, Brian Carroll is playing the best hurling of his life, as everyone knows, and the defence will boast 4 county men. There are still very few over 25’s to provide the leadership when the going gets tough.
Clareen still retain a strong spine from their glory years and have a reasonable supply of young talent at their disposal, Eugene Coughlan’s sons in particular. These are neigbours and neither will stand to admire the other, there being a history of tempestuous encounters between the two. While Coolderry are by far the more likely of the two to land Sean Robbins this year, I’ll give Clareen the nod to win this and put Coolderry under pressure for the remainder of a tight group.


KINNITTY v SHAMROCKS
Hard to know where Kinnitty are going Semi finalists last year, waited 30 minutes before they started hurling, then left a first final appearance in 20 years behind them. Still, they should have too much for Shamrocks even before we consider dual players and county footballers. It was reported the 2 Coughlans didn’t line out against K/K. If they don’t have them they’re bunched. It’s a tough group for Shamrocks who will find it difficult to pick up any match points in this group.

RYNAGH’S v TULLAMORE
Tullamore lost all 4 matches they played last year, albeit all by narrow margins. I can’t see them improve on this I the foreseeable future.
These are the kind of matches where Rynagh’s frustrate their supporters by playing dour hurling, winning on a tight margin, though never looking like losing. They’ve bigger fish to fry, however, and are well capable of upsetting Coolderry if they meet at the business end of the championship. Rynagh’s to lead by 4 the whole way through.

SHINRONE v DRUMCULLEN
Neither of these are going anywhere fast. The winners will fancy themselves to advance out of the group, however, with Shinrone looking to build on their semi-final appearance last year. They will look to Cordial and Comerford to provide the leadership.
Drumcullen will hurl with their traditional teak-tough style and it’s hard to see where the scores will come from other than Conor Gath’s consistent freetaking.

[Lone Shark]

Definitely that Belmont Lusmagh situation is a farce. I know it's probably a bit simplistic to say that both sides will lose to Birr, will beat Clara handily and in all likelihood will beat Killavilla, but it still means that barring a shock the losers of this weekend's game are in a beat Birr or out situation. These games are unavoidable in any open draw, and it would be the same situation if this game was in July, but it is extremely harsh that it happened to fall in April.

As regards the game, it's very hard split them. A lot of the Belmont players will have been involved in that Ferbane mauling last week, and I'm sure that won't have helped, but Lusmagh haven't had a smooth run in either it seems. Honest answer - can't split them.

On the other games, as you say Birr and Clara - God help the Magpies with sticks. Coolderry and Clareen - I respect local rivalries, but the talent gap here is huge. I'll still be suprised if Clareen finish within six. Rynagh's to grind out a win sounds about right, and Shinrone and Drumcullen - Shinrone overachieved last year, Drumcullen underachieved. The gap will close, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough. One thing's for sure - I'd say if ever a hurling game was likely to be won with 1-11 or so, this is it. I can't see any joy for Shamrocks against Kinnitty either. If K/K can beat Shamrocks by 8, Kinnitty can too.