Carbery’s greater strength in depth to pay dividends
Duhallow raised a few eyebrows last year by defeating Muskerry in the opening round, and will look to build on that result.
Unfortunately for most divisional teams, clubs are now reluctant to release players to play, and Carbery have suffered most in this regard. Bandon, Kilbrittain, Argideen Rangers, Barryroe, O’Mathunas, and Ballinascarthy are all excellent hurling clubs, and if the call is answered, they should carry too much power for their opponents.
Tonight in Carrigtwohill, Blackrock will be hot favourites to defeat Castlelyons in the SHC (7.30pm).
Former Limerick Under-21 coach David Keane makes his coaching debut with Blackrock in this game and it will be interesting to see how the Rockies respond. They are set to field an experienced team that will include Wayne Sherlock, Brian O’Keeffe, John Browne and Fergal Ryan, interspersed with youngsters David Coughlan, Colm McCarthy and David Cashman.
Apart from reaching the semi-final in 2001 under coach John Horgan, himself a former Rockie, Castlelyons have struggled to make an impact. Third-level exams keep Sean Kenny out.
Eoin Fitzgerald, Timmy McCarthy, Kieran McGann and Barry Fitzgerald will all figure, but the best Castlelyons may hope for is to keep the scoreline down to reasonable proportions.
At Páirc Uí Rinn tonight, Ballinhassig will be hoping they haven’t missed their chance of beating Na Piarsaigh, after the sides drew at the weekend (7pm). Ballinhassig will benefit from the drawn match but so will Piarsaigh, who have room for improvement.
John Gardiner, who finished an exam a couple of hours before the drawn match, could make a far bigger contribution and his side should be too strong for Ballinhassig this time out.
