Today’s GAA Previews
FOOTBALL
Connacht Club SFC quarter-final Moycullen (Galway) v Westport (Mayo) MacHale Park, 1.30pm These two clubs make their provincial bows. There was an element of national rejoicing at Westport’s inaugural title win, ensuring the club’s most celebrated player Lee Keegan earned a championship successss but they will need to get their feet back on the ground quickly here. The pandemic denied Moycullen a shot at provincial glory in 2020 but make no mistake, this is a team on a mission.
Verdict: Moycullen
Munster Club SFC quarter-final
Éire Óg Ennis (Clare) v The Nire (Waterford) Cusack Park, 1.15pm The Nire manager Michael Ryan holds the rare distinction of having a provincial title – the Munster ladies senior cup lifted by his daughter Michelle last weekend – named in his honour but he would probably prefer to get his hands on this one. However, that is a big ask and his team is unlikely to find a way past a gritty and well organised Ennis side, who also made it beyond this round 12 months ago.
Verdict: Éire Óg Ennis
Ulster Club SFC quarter-finals Cargin (Antrim) v Naomh Conaill (Donegal) Corrigan Park, 1.30pm
A fixture that illustrates how there are no easy games in the Ulster championship, as a talented Cargin team — backboned by the McCann brothers, Michael and Tomás — already showed in winning a fourth Antrim title in five years. It makes this a hazardous trip for the Glenties men, but there are few club sides better equipped to find a way to win a tactical game.
Verdict: Naomh Conaill
Glen (Derry) v Errigal Ciarán (Tyrone)
Celtic Park, 3.30pm
With an Ulster medal and an All-Star already pocketed, Conor Glass can put the cap on a fine season by knocking out a second Tyrone team from Ulster competition in the same year.
If Derry’s 11-point trimming of Tyrone in May – in which Glass excelled – was a shock, this time the burden of expectation is very much on their shoulders with Glen already being talked about as genuine contenders for the national title. After winning a first Tyrone title in a decade, a youthful Errigal Ciarán team, spearheaded by the Canavans, Darragh and Ruairí, have time on their side.
Which is just as well…
Verdict: Glen
Kilcoo (Down) v Ballybay (Monaghan)Clones, 1.30
Ballybay manager Jerome Johnston’s divided loyalties, which has seen him step down from a game in which he would have faced three of his sons, dominated the build-up, but there are other reasons to be enthused by this fixture.
Kilcoo are All-Ireland champions, but their form has not convinced — they were taken to extra-time by Warrenpoint in the Down county final — while Ballybay, driven on by the outstanding Dessie Ward, were sublime in beating Crossmaglen last week.
This will be a far stiffer challenge, but one that is not beyond them. Verdict: Ballybay
HURLING
Leinster Club SHC quarter-finals Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny) v Castletown-Geoghegan (Westmeath) UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.30pm
There is no glass ceiling for this remarkable Ballyhale Shamrocks crew. From the start of the year, they spoke about marking the club’s 50th anniversary year in style and they did that with an unprecedented fifth Kilkenny county title in a row. And with so many familiar faces leading the charge, even after being down to 14 men with the red card issued to Paddy Mullen in the county final win over Jsames Stephens.
A big ask then for Castletown-Geoghegan. Verdict: Ballyhale Shamrocks
St Mullin’s (Carlow) v Ferns St Aidan’s (Wexford) Netwatch Cullen Park, 2pm
A breakthrough year for St Aidan’s. Nearly three months have passed since Jonny Dwyer gained hero status with his match-winning sideline cut deep into extra time to secure that milestone first senior championship win. Ballygunner showed last week how to bridge a long lay-off and the Wexford champs can also hit the ground running.
Verdict: Ferns St Aidan’s
Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) v Clough-Ballacolla (Laois) Parnell Park, 2.30pm
Surfing the wave of a ‘double-double’ in the form of back-to-back titles in both senior hurling and senior football, these really are heady days for Crokes. Especially when both finals could so easily have gone the other way against Na Fianna. Ten different scorers that day hinted at their team ethic but they must involve Ronan
Hayes more. That said, Clough-Ballacolla turned them over last year and are in the sort of form to suggest they can do it again. Verdict: Clough-Ballacolla