SEMI-FINALS

2019:

Easkey’s Gaelic footballers, dramatic winners of a first-ever Connacht title in November of 2018, went one step further when they defeated Donegal and Ulster champions Red Hughs in the All-Ireland semi-final on January 20,

2019. The men from west Sligo won by two points, 1-8 to 0-9, at Seán O’Heslin’s Memorial Park, Ballinamore.

Easkey’s hurlers – with players from their neighbous St Farnan’s – went into their first All-Ireland semi-final against London’s Kilburn Gaels after a low-scoring provincial decider triumph against Ballygar (Galway). Easkey were certainly tested by Kilburn Gaels and they needed a brilliant second-half recovery to get over a club that had been GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club finalists in 2015.

The Sligo champions return to the All-Ireland series – with St Catherine’s of Cork as their semi-final opponents – following a successful retention of their provincial title on November 25. That defeat of Galway’s Ballinasloe was Easkey’s third successive appearance in a Connacht GAA Club Junior Hurling Championship final.

2022: 2023:

still got a provincial ticket because they were beaten by the second XV of Erin’s Own

He stated: “They are a good side – similar in many ways to Ballygiblin. They are on a good run of results, with three wins in Munster, so they’ll have momentum.

“It is going to be a tough challenge for us but if we play to the level that we’re capable of then we have a chance.”

There is no way that Sligo’s hurling scene and that of Cork can be compared but what the likes of St Catherine’s get are regular games of a good standard. Easkey’s toughest tests in Sligo were against Naomh Eoin and then their Connacht final battle against Ballinasloe.

Conway added: “It is going to take a very good performance from us and hopefully what happened in Croke Park will drive the lads to get back there again.

It is hoped that Shane Molloy and Bernard Feeney, who both missed the recent provincial victory, could be in contention for at least a place in the matchday squad as options to be sprung from the bench.

Saturday’s game is live on Ocean FM and is also being livestreamed on YouTube via the Spórt TG4 channel. The winners of Saturday’s clash in Ballinasloe will face either Castleblayney (Monaghan) or Tullogher Rosbercon (Kilkenny). The other semi-final is scheduled for The Downs, Westmeath, on Sunday afternoon (1.30pm start).