The four county senior hurling quarter-finals are down for decision this weekend.
On Saturday at Kenny Park, Turloughmore face Ardrahan (3pm ).
Turlough defeated Beagh by 1-19 to 0-16 to reach this stage, while Ardrahan had an easy 4-20 to 0-9 victory over a dispirited Carnmore outfit.
The probable clash of county players Ronan Burke and Jonathan Glynn should be one of the highlights of this game. Glynn hit 3-2 against Carnmore and he will need to be kept under tight rein by the Turlough defence.
Mulhollands have this game priced at evens, but Turloughmore have been in good form, and buoyed by their county minor success last weekend, they seem slightly better favoured to advance.
Craughwell v Tommie Larkins
The first game on Sunday is in Loughrea where Craughwell take on Tommy Larkins at 1pm.
Craughwell hit 3-18 in their recent win over Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry, while Tommy Larkins defeated Clarinbridge by 0-22 to 0-20 with Jason Flynn in terrific form.
The last two quarter-finals of the weekend sees an attractive double header at Kenny Park with Gort facing Killimordaly (3pm ) and another episode of Loughrea and Portumna at 4.30pm.
Loughrea v Portumna
The All-Ireland club champions and Loughrea have faced each other an incredible five times in county finals in the past 12 years, including last season’s final that Portumna won in style.
The Joe Canning-inspired Portumna took a long time to see off Athenry the last day out and they are 4/9 to advance this weekend with Loughrea at 2/1 to reach the last four.
Portumna may also be without Andy Smith who had to be subbed out of their win over Athenry in the first quarter and he would be a big loss.
Loughrea will need big displays up front from Johnny Coen, Johnny Maher, Jamie Ryan and Joe Mooney if they are to succeed. No doubt Enda McDonnell will have his charges fully primed and an upset is not beyond the bounds of possibility.
Gort v Killimordaly
Gort, the 2011 county champions, are heavily fancied (1/3 ) to beat Killimordaly in the first game in Kenny Park on Sunday. Tomás Broderick’s Killimordaly, who beat Sarsfields in their last group game, can be backed at 5/2 with Mulhollands to reach the semi-finals.
