Let the battles begin
Four county finals up for decision in Joule Park Aughrim
IT’S a weekend to savour in wicklow GAA circles as the biggest games of the year are down for decision over two days in Joule Park Aughrim.
The meeting of defending champions Rathnew and St Patrick’s in the Renault Senior Football Championship final is about as mouth-watering as you can get.
Harry Murphy brought his soldiers to the summit last year with a convincing victory over Blessington and they have returned to the decider in 2018 where their neighbours await after a quiet but impressive campaign under Casey O’Brien.
Throw in for this epic struggle takes place at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and Kilbride’s Noel Kinsella is the man in the middle.
Joule Park Aughrim will have barely recovered from the excitement of the Darcy Sand Intermediate Football Championship final by the time the Rathnew and Pat’s men tand Pat’s men take to the field.
Tinahely are facing a massive battle with Carnew in the curtain raiser at 1pm with Pat Dunne officiating and Alan Costello’s men will fully deserve their rapid return to Senor ranks if they can negotiate a route past James Hickey’s men.
Win, lose or draw the Tinahely supporters will have to high-tail it out of Aughrim to get back to Tinahely for the ladies’ Leinster clash with Wexford’s Kilmore.
On Saturday, there are two big games up for decision, two in Joule Park.
The Boom Platform Hire Junior ‘A’ Football championship final takes place at 3pm and will see Kilcoole looking to capture that elusive crown when they take on the talented men from Valleymount. Darragh Byrne from Ballymanus takes charge.
That fixture is followed by the meeting of the best young footballers in the county when Baltinglass take on Éire Óg Greystones in the Under-17 ‘A’ football final at 4.30pm with Tinahely’s Kieron Kenny looking after proceedings.
All in all, a superb weekend of GAA action on offer at the county grounds and a weekend that promises drama and excitement galore.