CLUB GAA PREVIEWS
TOMORROW
Healy Park, 1.30 A meeting of two clubs at the opposite ends of the tradition spectrum, with four-time winners Scotstown seeking to reach their second final in four years and Coleraine looking to make it there for the first time. The latter, despite taking down Slaughtneil in Derry, are rated as outsiders. But with a backbone of the McGoldricks, Sean Leo, Barry, Colm and Ciaran, they will push hard all the way to the line. With the class of the Hughes brothers, Darran and Kieran, Shane Carey, Conor McCarthy and All-Star goalkeeper Rory Beggan among the Scotstown ranks, the Monaghan champions should have too much.
Verdict: Scotstown It is a measure of Crossmaglen’s domination that, since winning the first of their 11 Ulster titles, this is the second longest spell they’ve gone without making the provincial final. The years 1999 to 2004 represent their famine. The suspicion that this group is not at the level of their predecessors remains and their gritty two-point win over Coalisland last time out did little to change that. They will be tested here by a Gweedore team who are likely to welcome back Odhrán MacNiallais, although the season-ending injury to Kieran Gillespie is a cruel blow. Still the Donegal champions have the quality to spring a minor surprise and reach their first final. Verdict: Gweedore They meet for the third time in four years in the decider and Ballygunner could not be blamed if familiarity has bred contempt. The Waterford champions lost by seven in 2015 and by eight last year, extending their misery in this competition to eight defeats in nine final appearances. In contrast, they are faced by the Limerick champions who have never lost a game in what is now a fifth provincial campaign. They should have enough, even in the face of Pauric Mahony’s firepower, to get the job done again.
Verdict: Na Piarsaigh Innovate Wexford Park, 1.30 A lot of concerned Ballyhale eyes will be on county quartet of TJ Reid, Joey Holden, Colin Fennelly and Richie Reid. They all travelled to Australia for last weekend’s exhibition match against Galway. The GAA’s scheduling of that fixture is unlikely to impress Ballyhale manager Henry Shefflin, and he knows his team will face a stiff test against a Naomh Éanna team seeking to reach their first final. The Wexford champions are boosted by the return of Cathal Dunbar, who was suspended for the quarter-final win over Camross, but this still looks a step too far.
Verdict: Ballyhale Shamrocks Westmeath champions Clonkill provided Ballyboden with a reality check when they took them to extra-time in the quarter-final, and the Dublin champions are likely to find it just as tough here. However, Coolderry go into this without the suspended Mark Bergin and that will not help the Offaly men’s cause. The firepower provided by Paul Ryan can get Ballyboden back to the final for the first time in 11 years.
Verdict: Ballyboden No surpise that a clash between the last two winners of the Tom Callanan Cup is deemed almost too tight to call. Champions Liam Mellows showed their resolve in a thrilling one-point win over Cappy – a match that was level 11 times – but the suspicion is that this St Thomas team have the greater quality. Verdict: St Thomas