Ballyragget can conquer the ‘Gaels
Ballyragget v O’ Loughlin Gaels
Nowlan Park: Sunday, 1pm
Ballyragget will go into this game as hot favourites.
Their form has been good – scoring 2-16 when beating Bennettsbridge, and 1-16 when overcoming a strong Thomastown outfit in the quarter-final last Sunday evening. They have a nice mixture of experience and youth, and they have hugely-talented players in the Brennan brothers – Joe, Geoff and Michael – along with James Gannon, Kevin Kelly, and Eoin Bergin.
O’Loughlins have a host of players with senior experience. Mark Kelly played in the quarter-final win over Mooncoin, but is likely to line out for the seniors on Saturday.
Davy Broderick, Conor Bergin, Pat Cantwell, Davy Burke, Anthony Forristal and goalkeeper Sammy Johnston have all experienced senior hurling in recent years.
O’Loughlins will put it up to the favourites, but Ballyragget should have too much firepower for the city team.
Piltown to push Lisdowney to the limit
Piltown v Lisdowney
Nowlan Park: Sunday, 2.30pm
It’s north against south; two very impressive teams in this year’s revamped junior championship.
Lisdowney have answered all the questions posed so far, with wins over last year’s beaten finalists Barrow Rangers and championship battlers Galmoy in the previous rounds. They were in the county final in 2008 and while they have been contenders since then, they look that bit more mature and solid in their make-up this year.
The Hickey brothers Eddie and Rory, the Phelans, Martina and Seán, Pat O’ Carroll, Shane Clyne and Vincent Fitzpatrick are all that bit more mature now, and it is showing in the team’s performances.
Piltown have been hitting impressive scores this year – 2-21 in their last outing, and conceding little. They have hurlers of a high calibre with Nicky and Philly Kenny, the McCarthys, Andrew, Peter and Richie, and the very promising Kevin Walsh.
The southerners have talent capable of winning any game.
This could be the game of the weekend, with Lisdowney likely to qualify for a final showdown with neighbours Ballyragget.
