AVONDALE V TINAHELY

Arklow, Friday, 7.30pm Another real 50-50 game here. Avondale on the back of a good win over Kiltegan take on Tinahely who lost nothing in their 0-14 to 3-11 defeat to the champions Rathnew.

Avondale were full value for their hard earned win and a success like that can be of immeasurable benefit to a team. They were cruising at one stage in that game but had to knuckle down and hold off a determined fight back from the westerners for a 2-10 to 1-11 win. Avondale created five or six goal chances in that Kiltegan game with the running and movement of Ryan Cahill and Conor Byrne inside a constant danger and this will have pleased manager Seamus McGraynor.

The ball carrying of Sean and Conor McGraynor and the returning Eamon Kearns will be of huge concern to Tinahely as this was where they really seemed to struggle against Rathnew.

They found it near impossible to stifle runs from deep and their back line was left exposed all too often with Rathnew looking like they could possibly get a goal whenever they needed one.

They will have to find a way to stop the Avondale ball carriers having the same success or they could find themselves in real trouble. David Blake departed with an injury early in that game and was replaced by Brendan Barnes so he could be a doubt for this one.

Shane Byrne and Eugene Dunne anchor a good Avondale defence who did seem to struggle under a high ball delivery inside early on against Kiltegan so this is one area Tinahely may want to exploit.