Leinster Club SHC (Cusack Park, Sunday, 2.30pm )
Westmeath hurling champions Clonkill welcome Dublin representatives Ballyboden St Enda’s to Cusack Park this Sunday in their opening game of the Leinster club championship. While the metropolitan side will be warm favourites to progress Clonkill will be hopeful they can do like Raharney did last year against Coolderry and cause an upset.
Ballyboden have collected five titles on the trot so will undoubtedly be a tough nut to crack. They have been racking up big scores and Clonkill will have to keep things very tight at the back if they are to have any chance.
Conal Keaney and Stephen Hiney are ruled out for the visitors while Clonkill are expected to have a full hand to pick from.
With Dublin hurling on a high at present there is bound to be a huge interest in how Ballyboden do in this year’s Leinster club competition. Complacency is unlikely to be an issue and with their greater ability to score goals it is difficult to see anything but an away win. I hope I have to eat my words next week!
