Huge day for Bray as they face Dublin ‘B’ champions

IT’S back to business with a bang for Paul Carley’s Bray Emmets hurlers this Saturday when they take on Dublin Senior ‘B’ winners Scoil Uí Chonaill from Clontarf in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final in Aughrim at 1.30pm.

The Wicklow champions have been boosted in recent days with the news that ace attacker Christy Moorehouse has had his red card from the county final rescinded by the Wicklow GAA Appeals Committee and is clear to line out on Saturday.

However, there are some concerns about the fitness of forward Michael Boland who lit up the early stages of the county decider against Glenealy.

Bray’s opponents in the quarter-final defeated Na Fianna in their county semi-final before toppling Tallaght’s Thomas Davis in the decider. They also ply their trade in Division 2 of the Dublin hurling leagues and finished fourth from bottom whle Bray enjoyed a mid-table finish in Division 4.

It’s a very interesting last-eight of the provincial championship with the winners of the clash in Aughrim going forward to do battle with the winners of Meath’s Kildalkey and Offaly’s Seir Kierans.

Tommy Walsh’s Tullaroan will be battling with Laois champions Rosenallis this weekend for the chance to take on either Cloughbawn of Wexford or Kildare’s Naas in the second semi-final.

Saturday’s battle is going to be a significant one for Carley’s men who disposed of Glenealy so comprehensively in the county final some weeks ago.

With Moorehouse cleared to play and with the likes of John Henderson, Diarmuid Masterson, Padraig Doyle, Eoin McCormack and captain Marc Lennon in excellent form, Bray supporters will travel in confidence that their hurlers can get the job done and take another step in Leinster. Throw in takes place at 1.30pm with Offaly’s Shane Guinan in charge.