Hurlers bet on themselves for €50,000

THE small Galway hurling club of Kilnadeema/Leitrim are within an hour of a €50,000 pay day.

At the start of the season, the players bet on themselves, at odds of 33/1, to qualify for the last eight of the county SHC.

They can progress to the quarter-finals without hitting a ball if Clarinbridge defeat or draw with Carnmore tomorrow evening in Athenry. However if Carnmore win, the bet will still stand, as the victors will then play-off with Kilnadeema/Leitrim to decide who will progress from the group.

“At the start of the year the lads saw the odds and thought it was worth a bet,” according to Kilnadeema secretary Martin Flynn.

“About €1,300 was put on, mainly at 33/1 and mostly with Mullholland’s in Galway. This is our fourth year at senior and for a small club with 240 members it is a great achievement to be in this position.”

Alan Mulholland of John Mulholland was philosophical about the potential loss of €40,000.

“Being the largest independent bookmakers in Galway, we always offer special markets on local events. Kilnadeema/Leitrim thought that the odds of 33/1 offered for them to qualify were too good to resist.

Our predictions are not right all of the time and while we hope Carnmore beat Clarinbridge we will be the first to congratulate Kilnadeema/Leitrim should they qualify.”

But there will be no huge spending spree if things go to plan according to Martin Flynn. “The boys will keep their heads on their shoulders if the result goes our way. After all they would then be concentrating on a quarter-final of the championship.”

Mullholland’s are quoting Clarinbridge at 2/9 and Carnmore at 11/4 for tomorrow’s tie.