O head to head

forward on his return to the senior team was another big plus and his physical presence offers a different angle to their play.

Tinahely overcame Aughrim with the ease many had predicted and will relish this opportunity to see where they are in terms of the pecking order of Wicklow football.

The loss of Paddy O’Rourke and Conor Hatton will hit an already stretched squad and they can ill afford any more injuries or absentees in this game. Tony Darcy, Padraig Murphy and Jason Cushe done most of the damage against Aughrim but they won’t get the same space or time on the ball against Damien Power and co here. The Dillon’s and Brian Walsh do most of the spade work out the field and will battle hard for possession. They have nothing to lose and can really have a go but won’t want to sit back and invite trouble from a focussed Village outfit.

Prediction: Rathnew are nearly at full strength but for the possible absence of Glynn while Tinahely’s hand has weakened so the champs should prove too strong and advance. at times against Rathnew and had them worried, who knows what would have happened if they had taken another goal chance or two that fell their way.

If any team can get up for a fight it’s the Kiltegan men and are a proven championship team.

Avondale didn’t show up against Newtown, simple as.

They played a formation in the first half that totally negated their own full forward line and against the wind in the second half left themselves too exposed and Newtown profited. Now it could have gone either way at the end but Avondale will know that when so many players have an off day in the one game getting a result will be tough. Shane Byrne was a loss at the back and if they had him Eugene Dunne could be released further forward.

Conor McGraynor will hope to be used more as will Conor Byrne and Ryan Cahill who was really good when introduced. Should be a good battle in this one.

Prediction: Loss of Furlong could swing this Avondale’s way and they will be eager to impress after not performing the first day. totally collapsed against Coolkenno when it looked like they were holding all the aces at one stage in that game. Morale will have been low in both camps but Ger Deasy will have had to work a lot harder than Paddy Molloy to get his men up for another fight.

Annacurra are a seasoned team who know how to win championship games as they have shown over the last couple of years and the experience of Alan Byrne, the Horan’s, Mick O’Brien, John Hynes and the McDonalds could give them the upper hand.

Hollywood will be hurting after how they didn’t perform against Coolkenno and will be glad of the chance to put things right.

A really young Hollywood team will need players like Philip Dunne, Ciaran Tyrell, Eoin and Thomas Burke to step forward and lead the fight. Peadar Traynor returned the last day after injury and will be a help. Garret Bell will need some help in the scoring stakes for them to really worry Annacurra.

Prediction: Annacurra have been down this road before and know how to travel it. It will take a massive improvement for Hollywood to win this one but they could have that game in them.

Both these are still in their infancy and both are struggling to get any momentum going with club commitments a big obstacle to both Lorcan Clarke and Philip McGillycuddy. Performances weren’t all that bad in their first round losses to Bray and Baltinglass even if the margin of defeat was a little disheartening.

They will regroup and with one of them guaranteed another game after this they may get the test for it and prove a difficult obstacle for one of the club teams.

Prediction: How much do the teams involved really want this now the club championship is in full flow? North District probably have the stronger panel and should progress.

A strangely subdued Eire Óg will be smarting from their first round loss to Saint Pat’s where they know they didn’t reach the level of performance that they are capable of. They were lacking an intensity that had been a bug part of their make up in recent seasons and Alan Costello will have worked hard to rectify this. With so few of their player’s song against Pat’s they were always going to struggle but will be a different animal now they have no more chances.

Aughrim performed well for a long period of their game with Tinahely and a Tinahely goal just before half time changed the picture in that game. Aughrim themselves created plenty of chances and Trevor Doyle will know if they tighten up at the back they could cause the Greystones men some difficulty. Traditionally there has never been much between them and expect a big Aughrim performance to stay in the hunt.

Prediction: Both will be down after their first round losses but the Eire Óg men will have set their sights further than a second round exit and should progress.