NOTHING SHORT OF EPIC
Huge weekend of GAA action all over Wicklow
IT’S a weekend of huge importance to Wicklow GAA with the Senior football semi-finals, the Intermediate football semi-finals, the under-17 ‘A’ and ‘C’ hurling finals and Wicklow’s first club representatives entering provincial competition over the course of three very busy days.
Friday night sees two dogfights on the cards, with Senior survival on the table in Ballinakill when Annacurra take on Avondale at 8pm. At the same time in Roundwood the men of Éire Óg and Newtown will be looking to finish their season on a high by claiming the Keating Trophy.
It’s a Super Saturday in Joule Park Aughrim when the Laragh footballers take on James Hickey’s Carnew in the Intermediate semi-final from 3pm. Decky Byrne’s charges have lived a fairytale since the Rathnew legend took over and they will fully expect to seal their place in the decider with victory over a rapidly improving Carnew who will seriously fancy their chances of going forward to meeting with Tinahely or Kilmac.
It’s the second game in Aughrim that will grab most attention this weekend. Defending champions Rathnew are one step away from another county final. Standing in their way are the young men of AGB. This promises to be a superb battle and the action gets underway from 4.30pm.
Sunday brings with it some enticing battles all over the county.
The Tinahely ladies, having emerged from a gargantuan struggle with the wonderful St Patrick’s women in the county final in Joule Park Aughrim will take on the Westmeath champions, Moate, on Sunday in Tinahely at 4pm.
Preceeding that clash, the village of Tinahely will be completely emptied as the Intermediate footballers head of Joule Park Aughrim for their Darcy Sand Intermdaiate Football Championship semi-final clash with the men of Kilmacanogue.
That game is followed by the epic struggle that is guaranteed between Casey O’Brien’s St Pat’s and Mick Murray’s Hollywood and they both look to book their place in the Senior county final against either Rathnew or AGB.
It’s an early start on Sunday morning for GAA fans when the Under-17 ‘A’ hurling championship final gets underway in the county grounds when Carnew take on Avondale/ Parnells from 11.15am. At 11.30am the ‘C’ final between Luke O’Tooles and Bray Emmets gets going in Ballinakill.
There are also the not insignificant matters of the Boom Platform Hire Junior ‘A’ football championship semi-finals up for decision in Blessington and Dunbur Park on Sunday, both with 11.30am starts and featuring An Tochar and Valleymount and Barndarrig and Kilcoole.