BloggerNow.com GAA Championship and League Weekend Match Recap

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Wexford narrowly defeats Offaly in the SFC Qualifier...

Wexford 2-11 Offaly 0-16

Wexford won this early afternoon encounter at Wexford Park. They will now move onto the next round of the qualifiers, while Offaly are out of this year's championship and can only dream of next year.

Wexford have now won their first competitive game in 2009.

___

Friday, July 3, 2009

Dublin-Kilkenny Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final Match Pick...

Dublin face reigning provincial and All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final, at Croke Park on Sunday.

It is the Dubs' first Leinster decider since 1991, where Kilkenny were also the opposition on that day. However, Kilkenny won by a couple of points on that occasion. Dublin have definitely up their game in this year's championship under new manager Anthony Daly, with good wins over Antrim and Wexford.

Injury doubt Alan McCrabbe has been named in the Dublin team for Sunday's final. McCrabbe injured his knee in the semi-final win over Wexford, but has recovered to take his place alongside John McCaffrey at midfield. Liam Ryan returns from injury to replace Pat Kelly in the half forward line, while Joey Boland continues at centre back in the absence of Ronan Fallon, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot. Stephen Hiney captains the team from right half back.

Dublin Team:
G Maguire; N Corcoran, T Brady, O Gough; S Hiney (captain), J Boland, M Carton; J McCaffrey, A McCrabbe; S Durkin, L Ryan, K Flynn; D O'Callaghan, L Rushe, D Treacy.


Kilkenny are looking to land the Bob O'Keeffe Cup for an amazing ninth time this decade and 66th time in all. However, this is just their second game of the championship; having already secured a hard-fought win over Galway in the semi-final. Manager Brian Cody will have his men braced for another battle against a Dublin side that have fared better than most against the Noresiders in recent years.

Kilkenny's All-Star full back Noel Hickey has been ruled out of the final. He missed the semi-final win over Galway, with a knee ligament problem and is believed to be two weeks away from making a comeback. JJ Delaney will continue to occupy the full-back position in Hickey's absence.

Last year's All-Ireland winning captain James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick has recovered from a broken bone in his hand, and was expected to be named at midfield to partner Derek Lyng. However, Cody has made only one change to the starting XV that played the Tribesmen. Lyng who missed the NHL campaign through injury, made a big impression after coming off the bench against Galway and has retained his place at Michael Fennelly's expense. Fitzpatrick is among the substitutes.

Centre-back Brian Hogan returned to light training last week, after he suffered a broken collarbone in the NHL final against Tipperary nearly two months ago. John Tennyson continues at centre back in the absence of Hogan.

Kilkenny Team:
PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, J Tennyson, J Dalton; D Lyng, M Rice; H Shefflin, M Comerford, E Larkin; E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.



Back in April, Dublin only lost by two points to the Black and Amber in the league at Nowlan Park. However, Kilkenny had already made the NHL final before that match. The bookies have made Kilkenny heavy favorites for the Leinster decider and for good reason. Therefore, I don't see Dublin coming close to an upset on Sunday.

Winner: Kilkenny

___

Cork-Limerick Munster Senior Football Championship Final Match Pick...

Cork play Limerick in this Sunday's Munster Senior Football Championship Final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Cork manager Conor Counihan has made one change to his Rebels side. Kieran O'Connor comes into the side replacing the suspended Noel O'Leary, who was sent-off in the semi-final replay over Kerry. Counihan has also included John Miskella in his starting XV after the defender recovered from a recent knee injury picked up playing for his club.

Cork Team:
A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, A Lynch; J Miskella, G Canty, K O'Connor; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kelly, P O'Neill, P Kerrigan; D Goulding, J Masters, D O'Connor.


Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan, has made just one change for the Sunday final. Stephen Kelly is drafted in at full-forward as a direct replacement for Jason Stokes, who started in the semi-final win over Clare. Kelly missed the wins over Tipperary and Clare after he sustained a broken bone in his hand while playing rugby. Kelly, who played in the 2003 and 2004 Munster finals, returned to training in recent weeks after he had the cast removed from his hand.

Limerick Team:
S Kiely; J McCarthy, S Gallagher, M O'Riordan, S Lavin, S Lucey, P Ranahan, J O'Donovan, J Galvin, P Browne, C Joyce-Power, S Buckley (Capt), G Collins, S Kelly, I Ryan.


O'Sullivan believes his side are in with every chance of upsetting red hot favourites Cork. He stated in Limerick earlier this week that a provincial final place was the early objective for his players once the draws had been made, and now he wants his side to go one step further to try and shock the Rebels.

I truly believe that Cork are a way better team than Limerick and should win comfortably on Sunday.

Winner: Cork

___

Antrim-Laois SHC Qualifier Match Pick...

Antrim are clear favourites over Laois for this Saturday's All-Ireland clash at Portlaoise.

Antrim come into the game after a big defeat to Dublin in their Leinster SHC debut in Croke Park. They were truly outclassed by the Dubs. The Saffrons will be without key duo Shane McNaughton and Karl Stewart due to a vacation trip, while Paul Shields is carrying an injury.

Antrim Team: To Be Determined

Laois were also badly outclassed last time out, when they lost by 27 points to Galway. The O'Moore hurling manager Niall Rigney believes his side have improved since last month's defeat to face the Ulster champions.

Their task is not made any easier given that two-time All Star nominee James Young is missing through suspension. Also, Zane Keenan is out with a long-term injury. Colin Delaney replaces Young at midfield, while Eamon Jackman replaces Dane Peacock at right half-forward.

Laois Team:
T Doran; JA Delaney, D Maher, B Stapleton; M Whelan, B Campion, M McEvoy; C Delaney, J Walsh; E Jackman, O Holohan, W Hyland; E Costelloe, J Rowney, J Purcell.


These sides have met four times in the Championship in the last four years. In their meeting, the Saffrons won which was last year’s relegation play-off.

Despite missing a few key players, I think that Antrim should progress to the next round. They put up a great performance (especially going into injury-time) to win the Ulster SHC Final against Down last Sunday.

Winner: Antrim

___

Antrim beat Down in Ulster SHC Final...

Antrim 3-20 Down 4-15

Antrim beat Down in this well-contested final at Casement Park. Down haven't won the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship title since 1997.

A trio of injury-time points from Karl McKeegan, Neil McManus and Shane McNaughton steered the Saffrons to their eighth successive Ulster SHC crown. They led by 2-09 to 0-09 at the interval, thanks to goals from McNaughton and Joey Scullion during a prolific 90-second spell.

ANTRIM: R McGarry; K McGourty, N McGarry, A Graffin; S Delargy, C Donnelly, N McAuley; J Campbell, K McKeegan (0-05); B Herron, N McManus (0-03), S McNaughton (2-03); K Stewart (0-06), P Richmond (0-02), J Scullion (1-01).

Subs used: M Herron, E McCloskey.

DOWN: G Clarke; F Conway, S Murray, S Ennis; S Wilson (0-06), R McGrattan, M Ennis; A Savage (1-02), C O'Prey (0-01); G Johnston, C Woods (0-02), K Courtney; J Coyle (0-01), P Braniff (2-02), S Clarke (1-01).

Subs used: M Coulter Jr, K McGarry, A Higgins

___

Offaly-Cork SHC Qualifier Match Pick...

Phase One of the All Ireland Hurling Qualifiers starts on Saturday with the highly anticipated meeting of Offaly and Cork in Tullamore.

Offaly hurling boss Joe Dooley will without the services of team captain Ger Oakley (elbow), James Rigney (shoulder), Daniel Currams (finger) and Cathal Parlon (knee).

Dooley has switched Rory Hanniffy to centre back, brought Paul Cleary out to the wing and starts Birr pair Dylan Hayden and Michael Verney at right half back and left corner back respectively. Veteran defender David Franks has recovered from a collapsed lung to take his place at corner back. While full back David Kenny has also been passed fit, despite his recent hamstring problems.

Offaly Team:
B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, M Verney; D Hayden, R Hanniffy, P Cleary; K Brady, B Murphy; B Carroll, C Mahon, D Molloy; S Dooley, J Brady, J Bergin.


Cork manager Denis Walsh is still seeking his first win since taking charge of the Rebels. The Rebels are the team that everyone wanted to avoid in the draw, but unfortunately for Offaly they drew them.

Tadgh Og Murphy and Pa Cronin come in for a new-look midfield, while Shane Murphy comes in at centre forward. Ben O'Connor moves into the inside forward line, while Kieran Murphy from Erin's Own comes in at full-forward. In the defence Shane Murphy starts at corner back with Conor O'Sullivan dropping to the bench.

Cork Team:
Donal Óg Cusack, Shane O'Neill, Eoin Cadogan, Shane Murphy, John Gardiner, Ronan Curran, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Tom Kenny, Tadhg Og Murphy, Jerry O'Connor, Pa Cronin, Timmy McCarthy, Ben O'Connor, Aisake Ó hAilpín, Kieran Murphy.


Having failed to perform in the Leinster SHC, the Faithful men will look at this clash as the way to make up for their defeat to Wexford. For the Rebels, they will see this game as the ideal opportunity to get some more game time that was obviously lacking in their Munster SHC defeat to Tipperary.

I think that Offaly's seriously depleted team will cost them the win.

Winner: Cork

___

Armagh-Monaghan SFC Qualifier Match Pick...

There are eight Round One Qualifiers at various venues this Saturday, but Monaghan's meeting with neighbours Armagh in Clones much be the pick of the round.

Armagh manager Peter McDonnell has been boosted by the return of Charlie Vernon to full fitness ahead of Saturday's match. The midfielder has recovered from the broken jaw he sustained in a challenge match against Dublin nearly two months ago, but manager Peter McDonnell has decided to keep him on the bench for the start of the match.

Knee surgery rules forward Stephen Kernan out, but otherwise McDonnell will have a fully-fit squad. Aidan O'Rourke has been recalled to the Armagh team. The former All-Star missed the Ulster SFC quarter-final loss to Tyrone, but returns at right half back at the expense of Finian Moriarty. Philip McEvoy replaces the long-serving Paul Hearty in goal.

Armagh Team:
P McEvoy; A Mallon, B Donaghy, B Shannon; A O'Rourke, C McKeever (captain), A Kernan; K Toner, J Lavery; P Duffy, M O'Rourke, B Mallon; S McDonnell, R Clarke, K O'Rourke.


Ciaran Hanratty and John Paul Mone have been drafted into the Monaghan team. Hanratty has been named in the full forward line in place of Tommy Freeman, who could yet play if his appeal to the DRA tonight against an 8-week suspension is upheld. Mone, who missed the Ulster SFC quarter-final loss to Derry through injury, is named at midfield in place of Eoin Lennon, while Raymond Ronaghan, who was a late replacement for Mark Downey, is retained at full forward.

Monaghan Team:
P McBennett; D Mone (captain), V Corey, D McArdle; D Freeman, G McQuaid, D Hughes; JP Mone, D Clerkin; S Gollogly, P Finlay, C McManus; C Hanratty, R Ronaghan, R Woods.


Monaghan won the league clash between the sides back in March by two points, but that will have no bearing on this match. Armagh goes into this match as slight favorites; showing some great form in their 3-point defeat to reigning All-Ireland champions Tyrone. Many consider Monaghan to be a little one-dimensional and may affect their performance against a more dynamic Armagh team.

I think that Armagh's great championship experience over this decade will be enough to help them prevail on Saturday. In fact, I originally had the Orchard County to get an upset win over Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster SFC, but it didn't happen.

Winner: Armagh

___

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final...

Áth Cliath v Cill Chainnigh
Venue: an Chrócaigh, (Sun) July 5th @ 4.00pm
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tiobraid Árann)

Paddy Powers Midweek Match Betting Odds:
Kilkenny 1/25
Draw 20/1
Dublin 11/1

Handicap Betting:
Kilkenny (-12.0) 10/11
Handicap Draw (-12.0) 14/1
Dublin (+12.0) 10/11


___

Munster Senior Football Championship Final...

Corcaigh v Luimneach
Venue: Pairc Ui Chaoimh, (Sun) July 5th @ 2.00pm
Referee: Rory Hickey (An Clár)

Paddy Powers Midweek Match Betting Odds:
Cork 1/10
Draw 14/1
Limerick 13/2

Handicap Betting:
Cork (-8.0) evens
Handicap Draw (-8.0) 8/1
Limerick (+8.0) evens

___

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Qualifier Phase 1...

Uíbh Fhailí v Corcaigh
Venue: Tullamore, (Sat) July 4th @ 7.00pm
Referee: Dickie Murphy (Loch Garman)

Paddy Powers Midweek Match Betting Odds:
Offaly 7/2
Draw 12/1
Cork 2/9

Handicap Betting
Offaly (+5.0) evens
Handicap Draw (5.0) 10/1
Cork (-5.0) 10/11


Laois v Aontroim
Venue: Portlaoise, (Sat) July 4th @ 7.00pm
Referee: Pat O’Connor (Luimneach)

Paddy Powers Midweek Match Betting Odds:
Laois 15/8
Draw 12/1
Antrim 4/9

Handicap Betting Hide
Laois (+3.0) 10/11
Handicap Draw (3.0) 10/1
Antrim (-3.0) evens


Note: Both matches will go into extra-time, if necessary.

___