Maigh Cuilinn, under the guidance of Fergal Clancy, take on Tom Monaghan’s Killimordaly this Sunday (2pm ) in Athenry in the county intermediate hurling final.
Maigh Cuilinn have been rank outsiders to get to this stage and they are in their first intermediate decider since 1964. However they have enjoyed impressive and encouraging victories over Killimor and Cappataggle and they will believe they can go on and finish the job.
They are 7/4 underdogs again on Sunday, but they will look to players like Thomas Higgins and Mark Lydon, who had a stormer against Cappataggle in the half-back line, prolific free-taker Eanna Noone and Pat Lydon around the middle, and up front players like Conor Bohan, Niall Mannion, Philip Lydon, Vinny Faherty and Christoper Hurney to get the west Galway club into the senior hurling ranks for 2012.
They can also call on the experience of Morgan Darcy off the bench if required.
Killimordaly defeated Oranmore by 3-6 to 0-14 in their semi-final and were very fortunate to advance.
Goals by Eanna Ryan, Clement Earls and substitute Nigel Daly were the key scores. Wing forward Ryan ended with 1-4 (1-3fs ) and was their most potent forward. They will look to Declan Connolly at number six to keep their defence well marshalled and keep pointable frees to the minimum.
Killimordaly are the bigger hurling name and are 4/9 to win with Mulhollands on Sunday. The draw is 13/2.
