One of the most interesting games in the St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling League at the weekend will be the meeting of last year’s finalists O’Loughlin Gaels and Carrickshock in Thomastown on Sunday at 2pm. Both teams will feel they have something to prove as O’Loughlins try to come to terms with their defeat in the All Ireland Club Final and Carrickshock seek a measure of revenge for their County Final defeat. The southerners will definitely be without John Tennyson and probably John Dalton following his injury last weekend but will hope to have Richie Power in action.. In the other games at senior level much interest will focus on how Ballyhale Shamrocks will fare against St. Martin’s who beat the four in arow champions in the corresponding game last year, while Fenians who survived relegation narrowly last year will be anxious to get their campaign off to a good start against Clara. Graigue Ballycallan will meet Dunnamaggin in the other game scheduled for Saturday. Newly promoted Dicksboro will play last year’s beaten semi-finalists Erin’s Own of Castlecomer in Páirc Lachtain on Sunday while new James Stephens manager and former Laois star Niall Rigney will hope to get his tenure off to a winning start against Tullaroan for whom Tommy Walsh is a major injury doubt.
At Intermediate level there are a number of interesting clashes with newly promoted John Lockes meeting unlucky to be relegated St. Lachtain’s and a local derby between Tullogher Rosbercon and Mullinavat. Emeralds will miss Aidan Fogarty when they take on Danesfort, who incidentally reached but lost the last two Intermediate League finals. Young Irelands and Glenmore who meet on Saturday in Graiguenamanagh are in rebuilding and consolidation mode while Mooncoin will hope to build on their fine under 21 championship win last year when they meet relegation survivors Graiguenamanagh while Conahy Shamrocks meet Rower Inistioge on Sunday at 2pm in Bennettsbridge.
By Mary Morgan Wed 20th Apr
