Tonight sees the start of another busy weekend of club hurling championship action with knockout games in the junior and intermediate grades.
The safety net of the qualifier system is gone from here on so expect the tension to go up a level or two – and even more so in the case of the relegation games.
Laois IHC Quarter-final
Slieve Bloom v Clough-Ballacolla
Venue: Mountrath
Time: 7.15pm
Referee: Alan Doheny
The biggest hurling game of the evening is in Mountrath with last year’s junior champions taking on last year’s beaten intermediate finalists for a semi-final spot.
Clough-Ballacolla have been the form team in this grade, reaching the Division 2 league final, but their loss to Trumera the last day out will be a bit of a setback. This game coming before their senior quarter-final against Rathdowney-Errill on Sunday is a help as it means they won’t lose any further players. Their senior team has only used 17 players so far so they’ve managed to keep their second string side largely intact.
In the absence of the injured Ben Conroy his brother Gavin has stepped up to the plate well and hit 1-8 in the win over Portlaoise the last day out. Martin Delaney, Tom Delaney, John Lowry and James Tobin are among the others to watch out for.
John Dwyer is a good man for a goal for Clough-Ballacolla and Jordan Walsh is a fine free-taker while the likes of Jim Doyle and Mick Dunphy have senior experience and Diarmuid Conway was a county minor this year.
Ballacolla might have enough to go through. The other quarter-final between Camross and Clonad isn’t on until next week while Rathdowney-Errill and Trumera are already through to the sem-finals.
Prediction: Clough-Ballacolla
Laois IHC Relegation
Park-Ratheniska v Portlaoise
Venue: Timahoe
Time: 7.15pm
Referee: Pat Moran
This is a game that neither side wanted to be in – the loser facing relegation and hurling in the fourth tier in 2018.
Park-Ratheniska were competitive against Trumera and Clonad but failed to win either game while Portlaoise also contested well against Camross and Slieve Bloom.
Park-Ratheniska have a couple of injuries but Portlaoise have lost a few to their senior team and their loss could make the difference.
Prediction: Park-Ratheniska
Laois JHC ‘A’ Quarter-final
Ballinakill v Rathdowney-Errill
Venue: Shanahoe
Time: 7.15pm
Referee: Ronan Devenney
Another game that sees last year’s beaten finalists (Rathdowney-Errill) play last year’s JHC ‘B’ champions.
A hard one to call but we’ll go with Rathdowney-Errill.
Prediction: Rathdowney-Errill
Laois JHC ‘A’ Relegation
Abbeyleix v Timahoe
Venue: Abbeyleix
Time: 7.15pm
Referee: Eoin Scully
Timahoe opted for relegation last year from the intermediate grade and now find themselves in danger of dropping another level. It’s been a disappointing season for them but they might have enough to survive.
Prediction: Timahoe
Already a member? Login here
App users login here.
To subscribe via the app, you can do so here.
