Plenty of interesting senior ties to be played
The Owen B Hunt Cup is getting serious and with the knock-out stages on the horizon, we look at the quarter-final pairings and we look at who will join Tubbercurry in the last four of the championship.
Next weekend it’s a north Sligo battle, with local rivals Coolera/ Strandhill taking on St Mary’s who will be hoping to get back to the last four after last year’s semi-final defeat against Eastern Harps.
Coolera/Standhill made it two wins from two in the group as they came from behind against St Molaise Gaels and Drumcliffe/Rosses Point.
Niall Murphy is their marquee forward, but as shown in the two group games they depend on the services and leadership of Keelan Cawley, Kevin Banks and Peter Laffey are also two big players for the Coolera men who will know what to expect against Mary’s.
Mary’s on the other hand, have had and up and down championship to date so far and will be hoping to ignite their campaign next weekend against Coolera. Rory Guinan is big player for Mary’s and the experience of both Mark Breheny and Johnny Martyn could be vital against Coolera next week.
Stephen Coen is a massive loss for Mary’s which will add pressure on Kyle Cawley and Nathan Rooney to come in with the scores next Sunday. This will be tight affair and extra time could be required.
The current Owen B Hunt champions Tourlestrane will be hoping to advance to the last four, but current Molaise Gaels manager Willie Gormley will be hoping that his experience over Tubbercurry could give his side a boost in two weeks’ time when they face the current champions.
Gaels, who have had a mixed championship so far, could have easily won against Coolera with two super goals from Luke Towey but they were very nervous against Drumcliffe/Rosses Point in a game that had so much tension.
The champions Tourlestrane on the other hand just enough in both games against John’s and Calry.
Tourlestrane will be boosted by the return of Brian Egan and Francis Carr which will give Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan plenty to think about ahead of the quarter-final.
John Kelly has been in great form and he will have to be watched by Molaise if they have any hopes of making the last four.
Alan McLoughlin was impressive last time out but the whole team will have play well if Tourlestrane are to be knockout.
Molaise Gaels will be well up for it and they will take confidence from the league final two year’s ago which Tourlestrane only one by point.
It is hard see past Tourlestrane in two weeks’ time.
The last quarter-final will see Calry/St.Joseph’s face Coolaney/Mullinbreena in what gives either side a massive chance in this year’s championship. Calry will be hopeful of making it to the last four, a place they were couple of seasons ago and they will feel they have the right mix to ensure they can get over the line against the south Sligo side. Conor Griffin and Darragh Cummins are two big players for Calry and they will have to perform if their side are to get over the line.
Coolaney/Mullinbreena on the other hand will take great confidence from their win over Tubbercurry last week.
But they will have realised they can’t take Calry for granted in two weeks’ time.
Shane O’Brien is target man for Coolaney/ Mullinbreena and with Barry Gorman around the middle.
They will be hoping that Ray Connolly can get back full fitness ahead of the quarter-final. Calry will be quietly confident, this came could be very interesting with a semi final spot the prize.