St Martin’s v The Fenians
Sunday: Nowlan Park, 1.30pm
The Fenians (Johnstown ) caused the surprise of the first round when they overturned a fancied Erin’s Own (Castlecomer ) outfit in Ballyragget last weekend.
The Johnstown club have put two good wins back to back. They beat Dunnamaggin in round five of the league, and they are coming into this quarter final with a bit of momentum.
The return of a number of injured players has strengthened the squad, and the outstanding form of JJ Delaney has contributed to an upturn in the team’s fortunes.
St Martin’s had a warm up win over O’ Loughlin Gaels in the shield final, and that little piece of silverware will have boosted the confidence of the Muckalee men. They reached the county final in 2008, losing to the Shamrocks, but since then they have failed to spark.
This is a massive opportunity for them to reach the semi-finals. St Martin’s have loads of talent throughout the team, and the return of Niall Moran and Shane Cadogan to the defence will strengthen the team.
St Martin’s have up to a dozen players who have worn the county colours at under age level over the past five years. Add in current senior player John Mulhall – and Joe Maher who has been on the extended Kilkenny senior panel – and there should be a serious championship team emerging.
St Martin’s are well equipped to win on Sunday. They will need to show the desire and the confidence if they are to succeed, otherwise the Fenians’ fighting spirit will turn them over.
Ballyhale Shamrocks v Carrickshock
Sunday: Nowlan Park, 3.30pm
This is a mouth-watering derby between last year’s beaten finalists, Carrickshock, and the four-in-a-row champions of two years ago.
Having watched Ballyhale Shamrocks winning the league final, they have lost nothing of their skill, speed, and movement. No other team in the county moves the ball as fast or as accurately as the Ballyhale boys.
They will have all the ‘Big Guns’: Henry Shefflin, Michael Fennelly, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick, Colin Fennelly, TJ and Eoin Reid starting on Sunday. The younger Reid, Richie, has been showing cat-like reflexes in goal, and he looks the part between the posts.
Carrickshock came through a thorough examination in the opening round, when they saw off the challenge of Dunnamaggin by two points. That win will have brought them on for this clash with the championship favourites.
John Tennyson is ruled out with that long term knee injury, while his older brother Pat missed last week’s match. They are huge losses for any team, but they have experienced inter-county players in John Dalton, David Franks, Michael Rice and Richie Power.
If Carrickshock are to succeed, they will have to bring the fight to the opposition from the opening whistle and disrupt their smooth flowing style of hurling – otherwise the 2009 champions will pick them off over the course of the game.
The feeling in the county is that Shamrocks are on a mission to reclaim the Tom Walsh Cup this year, and they have the firepower to succeed. They should take a step closer on Sunday.
James Stephens v Graigue Ballycallan
Sunday: Callan, 5pm
James Stephens qualified comfortably for the quarter finals, and did not over-extend themselves in the league final last Saturday, when they shipped a six-point defeat at the hands of Ballyhale Shamrocks.
They lined out without the injured Donnacha Cody and Matthew Ruth – both are expected to be back this weekend. Philip Larkin lined out at centre back with Jackie Tyrrell at full back.
The performance of the Village had all the hallmarks of a warm up game ahead of the championship.
Graigue Ballycallan had a much different outing across town in Palmerstown, where they were involved in a blood and thunder affair in the opening round of the championship against Tullaroan, coming through by the narrowest of margins.
Ballycallan would probably need another week to recover from the encounter, and that could be a factor in this match on Sunday evening. It took a huge effort to win last weekend, and they are likely to be without full back Dermot Hoyne who went off with a leg injury.
Neither team has any fear of the other but James Stephens, with the greater overall balance and scoring power, should prevail.
First round replay
Clara v Dicksboro
Saturday: Jenkinstown, 2pm
Clara escaped to a draw last Sunday.
After the immaculate Keith Hogan put a shot narrowly wide in injury time, it appeared Dicksboro had done enough to advance to the quarter finals. But one last effort from Eoin O’Shea, into the wind, hit the target to give his team another day out.
A poor start for the Boro saw them trail 1-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes, playing into a strong wind. However they steadied and looked the better team from there to the finish.
They will have to reproduce this form on Saturday – and maybe a little more – if they are to succeed in the replay. When the Boro move the ball fast they look good; they have loads of skill.
Clara will be disappointed with their performance in the drawn game. They bunched when playing with the wind, and they could never get a hold of the game in the middle third of the field. The accuracy of Keith Hogan kept them afloat.
Dicksboro played the better hurling last Saturday, and they will have do the same and more if they are to succeed this time. Clara are likely to be without Conor Phelan, who had to retire with a hand injury late in the drawn game.
A better overall team performance by Clara looks more likely and they should advance.
