BRAY OUT AFTER LATE HEARTBREAK

Tasty clashes on the horizon as football action hots up

A deadly dozen of championship quarter-finals were pulled from the drum on Sunday evening last in Aughrim after Tinahely had stunned Bray to claim the last remaining place in the last eight of the competition.

The prize for Alan Costello’s men is a chance to test themselves against defending champions St Patrick’s and although Casey O’Brien’s charges will undoubtedly start as favourites, this Tinahely team look to have put that defeat to Kiltegan in Baltinglass behind them and presented a united group in the county grounds last Sunday evening.

Given the drama that unfolded in Aughrim on Saturday evening between Rathnew and Blessington it’s not unfair to say that the fixture of the weekend will be the opening SFC quarter-final on Saturday, August 22, when Harry Murphy sends his charges out to face Anthony Masterson’s AGB.

Rathnew looked dead and buried with normal time just up against Jonathan Daniels’ men but showed that immense character and courage to rise from the dead and send the game to extra-time.

The neighbourly joust of Baltinglass and Kiltegan will be a fascinating one. How will Keith Byrne’s men handle the fit and powerful Baltinglass and can Kiltegan keep this memorable run going by taking a significant scalp.

Dunlavin thundered into the quarter-finals by strangling the Newtown attack and storming home with the wicked finish. They’ll find the challenge of Avondale all the more difficult but Gavin Wynne will no doubt concoct a plan to trouble the Rathdrum men.

Eight promising clashes in the IFC and JAFC championships as well.

SFC quarter-finals: St. Patrick’s v Tinahely; AGB v Rathnew; Baltinglass v Kiltegan; Avondale v Dunlavin.

IFC quarter-finals: Coolkenno v Laragh; Kilcoole v Annacurra; Kilmacanogue v Carnew Emmets; An Tochar v Donard The Glen.

Junior ‘A’ football championship quarter-finals: Baltinglass v Valleymount; Shillelagh-Coolboy v Blessington; Barndarrig v Rathnew; Ashford v St. Patrick’s.