Club Fixtures: The talking points

12 May 2017
Posted in: Antrim GAA , Dublin GAA , Clare GAA and Club
BY SHANE STAPLETON
It’s less than two months since the AIB All-Ireland club finals
and yet the real action is underway again.
The second
knockout round of the Dublin football championship is on the horizon
and this time the Dublin Under-21 players will be fully
involved.
Hurling finalists on Paddy’s Day, Ballyea,
are back in action while 2016 champions Na Piarsaigh are looking to
recover from last year’s disappointment.
Let us know on
social media what other club fixtures you’re looking forward to.
St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh v Castleknock
When Plunkett’s knocked out Ballyboden recently, there were four
former Footballers of the Year on the field. Michael Darragh Macauley
was on the wrong side of the result but Alan and Bernard Brogan, along
with Kerry import Paul Galvin, were on the winning team. Ciaran
Kilkenny is the talisman for Castleknock who made it to the county
final last year, beating the Brogan band along the way. Plunkett’s are
fancied but this is a bigger rivalry that many might expect. Plunketts
man Mick Galvin won an All-Ireland with Dublin in 95, but his son Ben
plays for Castleknock. Likewise Rory Boland, who will watch his son
Shane in those same opposing colours. Fermanagh man James Sherry
(Castleknock) is married to Ross McConnell's (Plunketts) twin sister,
and he will face off against his former Erne County team-mate Shane
Lyons. In a further twist, Sherry is a physio for a number of the
players he is battling against this weekend.

Ballyea v Wolfe Tones
Having gone so far last year, Ballyea are back to ground zero as
they again look to climb to the summit of hurling. Of course, no one
would’ve expected it from them at the beginning of 2016, though now
they will be marked men in Clare. They must do so without Cathal
Doohan who has gone travelling, and no doubt their defence will miss
him as the Aarons — Shanagher and Cunningham — provide a massive
threat. Robbie Hogan stepped down as manager after Paddy’s Day and the
man now leading Ballyea is 1995 Clare hero Fergal Hegarty. The Tones
haven’t been a huge force since the days of the Lohans, Brian and
Daithi O’Connell, but have good young guns coming and many are tipping
a shock.
Cushendall v Loughgiel Shamrocks
It might be league but one of the tastier ties in the country
will be the meeting of these two rivals. Neil McManus has been in
excellent form for Antrim since returning from a broken cheekbone and
could be the difference again.
Carbery Rangers v Ilen Rovers
The sides had a draw after extra-time in Castlehaven and it’s
the one senior football game scheduled in Cork this weekend. Carbery
Rangers won their maiden title in 2016 and will expect big things from
John O’Rourke and Robbie Kiely.

Carbery Rangers v Ilen Rovers
The sides had a draw
after extra-time in Castlehaven and it’s the one senior football game
scheduled in Cork this weekend. Carbery Rangers won their maiden title
in 2016 and will expect big things from John O’Rourke and Robbie
Kiely.
Na Piarsaigh v Patrickswell
The 2016 AIB
All-Ireland club hurling champions fell at the first hurdle when they
began their defence last season, and it’s certainly a tough task to
recover so quickly from Paddy’s Day to again hit championship pace. A
year in the shadows will have them fired up against a Patrickswell
side who are out to retain a county title they took from their rivals.
It would be wrong to boil this down as a battle between Shane Dowling
and Cian Lynch, but they will be major players. A 7pm throw-in at the
Gaelic Grounds makes for an enticing clash.