In a phenomenal achievement for football in Galway, three Galway clubs are in action this weekend in the club championships which have reached the All-Ireland series stage.
Moycullen are competing in the senior semi-final on Sunday afternoon, while Dunmore MacHales and Clifden play on Saturday afternoon in the intermediate and junior competitions respectively.
The headline game is undoubtedly Moycullen’s clash with Ulster and Derry champions Watty Grahams Glen in Croke Park on Sunday at 3.30pm. That fixture takes place after the other senior semi-final between Kerry’s Kerin O’Rahilly’s and Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes.
Moycullen are in unchartered territory, having never reached this stage of the competition previously, and the same can be said for their opponents Glen, who also won their first ever Ulster title in early December when they dumped out the reigning All-Ireland champions Kilcoo by 1-12 to 1-06.
It was sweet revenge for Glen who were narrowly defeated by Kilcoo after extra time by a goal in 2021’s Ulster semi-final. This season they have returned with renewed belief that they are one of, if not the best team in the country.
Glen breezed through their county championship this year, winning the county final at a canter by 1-12 to 0-07 against Slaughtneil. Extremely impressive throughout their Ulster Championship campaign, first they disposed of Tyrone’s Errigal Ciaran in the quarter-finals by four points, a team which contained starlets like the Canavans. They then made light work of Antrim’s Erin’s Own Cargin in the semi-final, which set them up for a blockbuster clash with Kilcoo. The scoreline from the Kilcoo game is a little misleading as the game was an almighty battle throughout, but there was no doubting which the better team were on the day as Glen were well worthy of victory.
Their team is littered with quality throughout, including a few who helped Derry to an All-Ireland semi final this year, none more so than midfielder and All Star Conor Glass. Glass is accompanied at midfield by another giant of a man in Emmett Bradley. Other highly capable talents include young footballer of the year nominee Ethan Doherty and the pocket rocket corner forward Conleth McGuckian, who put in an exceptional performance in the Ulster final.
Despite the array of talent in the Glen squad, Moycullen are more than a match for them in physical and football terms. The game could well be tight, and the grand prize of an All-Ireland final awaits the winners.
Also in action are Dunmore MacHales who face Tyrone and Ulster champions Galbally Pearses on Saturday at 1.30pm in Mullingar. The Tyrone side, much like their Galway counterparts, were comfortable for the most part in their provincial final, as they defeated Monaghan’s Corduff by 1-09 to 0-05 to reach the All-Ireland semi final stage.
Gary Delaney’s side are 2/1 underdogs with the bookies, but with such a talented squad at his disposal, it will be nothing more than a 50-50 game.
Clifden are also in action in their semi-final on Saturday afternoon as they play Stewartstown Harps of Tyrone in Dr Hyde Park with throw in at 1pm.
