The eagerly anticipated draw for round two of the Claregalway Hotel Senior Football Championship has thrown up a mouth-watering ties between Killererin and Salthill.
With the back door now closed and a straight knockout from here until the Frank Fox Cup is presented to the winning captain in late September/early October, the tie that produced the biggest reaction at Tuesday night’s draw was the game that will feature Killererin and former All-Ireland champions Salthill.
Killererin bounced back from their first-round defeat to Mountbellew with a ruthless display against NUIG in the qualifiers. Padraic Joyce was their scoring ace and they will fancy their chances against a Salthill side that beat Claregalway comprehensively the first day, but was inconsistent in the league.
There have been great jousts between these two teams in the past decade and that tie should be noted in the “must-see” section of your diary.
Another game that should bring a big crowd to Pearse Stadium is the all-Connemara clash of Leitir Móir and Moycullen.
Leitir Móir came up from intermediate last season and they would love to reach the senior quarter-finals. They are a tight-knit bunch, they never throw in the towel, and they will fancy they have the mettle to down the Moycullen colours.
Seán O’Dea will be hoping county player Gareth Bradshaw will be available and back from injury and the return of Paul Clancy to the club colours will be a plus in what should be a intensely-fought contest.
County champions Corofin will believe they owe Micheál Breathnachs a defeat after going down to them heavily in last year’s first round. If they can stop the highly impressive Petie Kenny, who lines out at corner forward for Na Breathnaigh, they will be along way towards achieving that aim.
Barna v Tuam should be a lively encounter
Barna had a narrow victory over Caltra in the first round of the championship and they also beat Salthill comprehensively recently in the league, so they will believe they are on a bit of a roll and that they can take a famous scalp in three weeks’ time.
Tuam’s Rory Gaffney was their star turn in their one-point win over Annaghdown in round one, notching 1-4, and Conor Doherty, David Connern, Tony Costello, Shane Curtin, Jamie Murphy and county player Gary O’Donnell will have a very different view on matters.
Annaghdown will face Kilkerrin-Clonberne and they would be hotly fancied to jump that fence and reach the last eight.
Caltra. who were fortunate to get a bye in the qualifiers after their loss to Barna, will take on Caherlistrane who will improve and gain confidence from their recent win over Cararroe. Unless Michael Meehan is back and raring to go for Tommy Newell’s men, the advantage will favour Peter Warren’s side.
In the last two draws Milltown will take on Claregalway and Mountbellew-Moylough will be expected to account for Killanin.
Round two of the championship is expected to take place on the weekend of July 3/4 - the weekend after Galway host Sligo in Pearse Stadium in the Connacht semi-final.
If Galway were defeated by Sligo in that game, then the club fixtures would probably be cancelled as round two of the All-Ireland qualifiers are fixed for July 10.
Hopefully that won’t be necessary
