First round
Carrickshock v Dunnamaggin
Saturday: Piltown, 3pm
Carrickshock have blown hot and cold in this year’s campaign so far.
Injuries to some key players such as David Franks, Michael Rice and John Power at various times, and of course the long term injury of John Tennyson, have affected the performance of the team.
Dunnamaggin have been their usual competitive selves, gaining victories against the odds, but surprisingly they lost to the Fenians in the fifth round of the league. However, this is the championship and Dunnamaggin are a great championship team.
With the return to full fitness of centre forward JJ Dunphy, and the outstanding form of midfielder Kenneth Moore along with Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity and full back Noel Hickey, they will be very hard to beat. Pat and John Tennyson are out of Saturday’s game and this is a big blow to last year’s beaten county finalists.
But they have plenty of ability in the team with county players John Dalton, Richie Power and Michael Rice. Carrickshock forwards, if they are prepared to work hard, should create enough chances to win this one.
Erin’s Own v Fenians
Sunday: Ballyragget, 1.30pm
Erin’s Own will go into this as hot favourites.
This is unusual for the ‘Comer men, who love the underdog tag. Their record in the senior championship over the past three seasons has been excellent, losing narrowly in the last two semi-finals.
The half back line of the Fogarty brothers, Damien and Conor, along with Gerry Callinan, is the backbone of this team, and the outstanding work rate throughout the field is also a hallmark of the squad. The Fenians had a fine win over Dunnamaggin in their last outing, springing them out of the relegation zone.
JJ Delaney is back to his imperious best, but the loss of PJ Delaney with a hip injury will be felt. Their forwards are physically light and they will need a good delivery of quality ball if they are to prosper.
Erin’s Own would appear to have the advantage in this one, but they will have to earn their victory against one of the best championship battlers in the business.
First round/relegation semi-finals
Tullaroan v Graigue Ballycallan
Saturday: Palmerstown, 5pm
This is the clash of the weekend.
At a recent field day in Kilmanagh, Tullaroan came in and won the novelty ‘Big Round Bale Race’ and the locals weren’t happy to see them going away with the spoils. That is the kind of rivalry that exists between these two neighbouring parishes. Two years ago, Graigue Ballycallan stole a victory on Tullaroan with a last minute goal; that hasn’t been forgotten in Tullaroan either.
Tommy Walsh will lead his parish into battle, backed up by his brothers Martin and Padraig, the Mahers, Richard, Stephen and Michael, and Jimmy Coogan. They will bring the tradition and the history of the Tullaroan club with them.
Graigue Ballycallan will look to their recent supremacy over their neighbours and with Eddie Brennan and his cousins Micheal, John and Ciaran Hoyne and the powerful James Ryall they will battle for their lives.
Tullaroan have been improving, Graigue Ballycallan had a bad finish to the league. When neighbours meet anything can happen. A weak nod for a Graigue Ballycallan win.
Dicksboro v Clara
Sunday: Jenkinstown, 12pm
This is a place Dicksboro wanted to avoid, after battling so hard to gain promotion from the intermediate grade last year.
The ‘Boro can’t afford to be without any player, but that has been one of their problems. Last year’s Kilkenny minor captain Cillian Buckley has been sidelined for the year with an ongoing injury.
Martin Gaffney is also injured, and Shane Maher has been in America for the summer. It has taken Clara almost five seasons to find their feet in the top grade.
The defence is solid and with Lester Ryan, David Langton and Shane Prendergast spending the summer training with the Kilkenny panel, they will be well equipped for this clash. The Clara attack continues to frustrate and a lack of physique has been a big drawback in this area of the field.
Clara are a better developed and more experienced squad than Dicksboro and they should qualify for the quarter-finals.
