COUNTY FINAL PREVIEWS
Leinster Club SHC quarter-finals Kilcormac-Killoughey (Offaly) v CastletownGeoghegan (Westmeath) O’Connor Park, 2pm
Given that the counties of these two clubs play at the same intermediate level, it is a little surprising that CastletownGeoghegan have been dismissed here as 4/1 no-hopers. It should be closer than that, but there is no ignoring Kilcormac-Killoughey’s pedigree – this year is the fifth anniversary of their solitary provincial success – and class, underlined by prolific Ciaran Slevin and the fitagain Dan Currams.
Verdict: Kilcormac-Killoughey
Camross (Laois) v Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow), O’Moore Park, 2pm
A pairing which serves to underline the democracy in Leinster club hurling. Despite representing two of the provinces’ second-tier counties, they have won three Leinster titles between, Mount Leinster’s sole win coming in 2013. This is almost too tight to call but Camross have been dealt a huge blow in the build-up with the loss of county star Dwane Palmer – one of their three goal-scorers in the county final win over Clough-Ballacaoll – who broke his ankle in a recent challenge game.
Verdict: Mt Leinster Rangers
Cuala (Dublin) v Dicksboro (Kilkenny), Parnell Park, 2pm
Dublin hurling will hope this is simply a forerunner of things to come. A Kilkenny team travel to the capital as rank outsiders faced by a star-studded home outfit, who are putting their Leinster and All-Ireland titles on the line. There is some way to go before this Trading Places adaptation will get an airing at the intercounty level but it should hold firm here for any number of reasons. For once it is the Kilkenny champions who are likely to fulfil the role of wide-eyed innocents as they are faced with the challenge of clearing their minds within seven days of winning a first county title in 24 years. In contrast, Cuala’s defence of their county title against Kilmacud Crokes reeked of a hardnosed team who can get the business done in tight games. That quality marked them out as the best team in the land last year and that experience should stand to them. More than anything, they possess the quality and intercounty experience in the likes of Oisin Gough, David Tracy, Darragh O’Connell, the Schuttes, Paul and Mark, and the O’Callaghans, Cian and Con to get the job done. But they will not dismiss the challenge of a Dicksboro team led by Cillian Buckley – a Kilkenny captain in waiting – who also boasts an attack with cutting edge. Last Sunday their full-forward trio of Martin Gaffney, Bill Sheehan and two-goal hero Oisin Gough – who could be marked by his Cuala namesake – combined to score 4-4. That is a timely warning for the champions, but it is one you suspect they will heed.
Verdict: Cuala
Munster Club SHC semi-finals Ballygunner (Waterford) v Sixmilebridge (Clare), Walsh Park, 2pm
The big question is how much has last Sunday’s thrilling extra-time win over Thurles taken out of Ballygunner legs? It was pretty much the perfect result for Sixmilebridge, who go into this tie as rank outsiders but their odds belie the pedigree of a team who have won three of the last five Clare titles. Still, the force and the class is with Ballygunner, not least in the red-hot Pauric Mahony who scored 1-11 last weekend, while they have the depth – JJ Hutchinson, David Walsh and Barry O’Sullivan all scored coming off the bench against Thurles – to see this out.
Verdict: Ballygunner
Na Piarsaigh (Limerick) v Blackrock (Cork), Gaelic Grounds, 2pm
The loss of Shane Dowling is a huge blow to Na Piarsaigh’s attempt to extend their record of adding a Munster title to each of their county successes at the fourth time of asking. Dowling’s free-taking and his influence in open play will be missed – he has been ruled out with a knee injury until the New Year – but it is questionable if a Blackrock team has the stomach to take advantage after losing the Cork final to divisional outfit Imokilly. And even in Dowling’s absence, Na Piarsaigh have the firepower in David Dempsey, Adrian Breen and Kevin Downes to get the right result.
Verdict: Na Piarsaigh