COUNTY champions Sarsfields will look to step up the defence of their senior hurling title this weekend when they take on an ever improving Kilnadeema/Leitrim in the preliminary quarter-finals. Although the men from New Inn/Bullaun will be hotly tipped, the contest is not without its sub plots.
For one, this is the first time in over a decade that the two will meet in senior championship hurling, having been fierce rivals at the turn of the millennium. In the 2003 quarter-final, a young Tom Tierney scored the only goal of the game to record a famous 1-10 to 0-10 win over Sarsfields and how he would love to relive the magic of that occasion this Saturday?
Two years later, the sides met again and on this occasion Sarsfields ran amok when accounting for Kilnadeema/Leitrim on a 1-14 to 0-6 scoreline. The defeat pushed the losers one step closer to relegation.
Current Sarsfields player/manager Cathal Murray was on duty that day and his involvement this time around provides another interesting sub-plot in that the defender and current Galway U-21 selector will be up against his bright young charge Brian Molloy, who shot 10 points for the Tribesmen in their All-Ireland U-21 semi-final win over Dublin last weekend.
There is something to grab the attention in all four preliminary quarter-finals, with little or nothing between the teams contesting the other three. That said, Mullagh, Tommy Larkins and 2012 All-Ireland club champions St. Thomas’ will also be favoured to advance – but only the skin of their teeth.
SATURDAY
Cappataggle v Mullagh
(Duggan Park, 4pm)
This is not only an eagerly anticipated derby between two neighbours but it is also a contest between two outfits who illuminated the group stages of the championship earlier this year. For Cappataggle’s part, they produced some exquisite hurling, especially against Liam Mellows, Ardrahan and Portumna, drawing the latter.
No doubt, Cappataggle’s star has been on the rise but, unfortunately, they have been crippled by injuries in 2016. Three players – James Garvey, Jonathan Shaughnessy and Michael Broderick – have fallen victim to cruciate injuries while the impressive Paul Claffey is a long term loss with ankle ligament trouble.
Added to this, Declan Cronin (quad) and Darragh Dolan (back) picked up knocks lining out for the Galway U-21s last weekend. Daniel Nevin was also to the fore in that U-21 victory, carrying his superb club form into the inter-county arena.
Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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