Everything to lose for champs
Graeme Mulcahy
(Limerick, above) 1st award Age: 28 Club: Kilmallock
Eoin Murphy
(Kilkenny) 2nd award Age: 28 Club: Glenmore
Richie English
(Limerick) 1st award Age: 23 Club: Doon
Daithi Burke
(Galway)
4th award Age: 25
Club: Turloughmore
Declan Hannon
(Limerick) 1st award Age: 25 Club: Adare
Cian Lynch
(Limerick)
1st award Age: 22 Club: Patrickswell
Peter Duggan
(Clare)
1st award
Age: 24
Club: Clooney-quin
John Conlon
(Clare)
1st award Age: 29 Club: Clonlara
Sean Finn
(Limerick) 1st award Age: 22 Club: Bruff
Dan Morrissey Seamus Harnedy
(Cork) 2nd award Age: 28 Club: St Ita’s (Limerick) 1st award Age: 25 Club: Ahane
Darragh Fitzgibbon
(Cork)
1st award Age: 21 Club: Charleville
Joe Canning
(Galway) 5th award Age: 30 Club: Portumna
Patrick Horgan
(Cork)
3rd award Age: 30 Club: Glen Rovers CLUB FOOTBALL THE county finals start to disappear into the rearview mirror this weekend as the provincial football competitions begin in earnest.
There’s still one outstanding matter in Galway, however, where All-ireland champions Corofin (inset) put all their titles on the line once again in a replayed county final against Mountbellew-moylough.
There are a glut of provincial games this weekend, starting with Crossmaglen Rangers’ return to the Ulster Championship this evening against Coalisland, when you’d have to fancy the Armagh champions.
The remaining three quarter-finals take place tomorrow when Scotstown, Coleraine and Gweedore are fancied to progress.
Ballintubber and Clann na Gael should move through to the semi-finals in Connacht, while Dr Crokes and The Nire are poised to pick up wins on the road in Munster. CLUB HURLING NA PIARSAIGH launch their latest assault on provincial and national glory when they return to the Munster Club Championship tomorrow.
It would be foolhardy to back against them with Clonoulty-rossmore, vastly inexperienced by comparison, their opponents tomorrow.
Moreover, with two-in-a-row champions Cuala now out of the way, Na Piarsaigh (left) look well placed to go one better in the All-ireland race. Ballygunner should be able to edge out 2016 provincial champions Ballyea at Walsh Park in the other semi-final.
In Leinster, Coolderry were impressive against a fancied Kilcormac/ Killoughey side and look the better bet to set up a semi-final against most likely Ballyboden St Enda’s, who face Clonkill, by beating Mount Leinster.