Carlow favourites for place in Ring decider

THOUGH tomorrow’s Croke Park triple-header has been postponed by a week, there is no lack of intercounty hurling action today.

Westmeath face Carlow (5pm) and Meath are paired with Kildare (7pm) in today’s Christy Ring semi-finals at Tullamore.

The change in transfer rules permitting players to play with another county without having a change of address has certainly benefited Kildare.

They acquired the services of former Tipperary senior David Kennedy who is a member of the Garda Síochána and the arrival of the Loughmore-Castleiney player has given the game a tremendous boost in the county. The same rule change allows another former Tipp senior, Eoin Brislane, to ply his hurling trade with Meath — even though he still plays his club hurling with Toomevara.

The earlier rounds of the Christy Ring Cup were played on a round robin basis. Kildare lost their opening game heavily to Carlow, 3-13 to 0-15, but recovered to beat London, Derry and Wicklow.

The Lilywhites will fancy their chances against a Meath side that won all four of their round robin matches — against Down, Kerry, Mayo and Westmeath.

Having also won all of their four round robin matches, Carlow will be favourites to reach the final and set up another meeting with Kildare.

Meanwhile the two semi-finals of the Nicky Rackard Cup are also down for decision.

The first semi-final is an all Ulster affair between Donegal and Armagh in Keady (3pm).

Hurling in the Orchard County is on the up and up. Home advantage should be worth a couple of points to Armagh, but Donegal look to carry too much power, particularly in attack.

Roscommon make the long journey across country to Dundalk to take on Louth in the second semi-final (7pm). Hurling in the Connacht county has dipped over the last 10 years but there are signs of a revival as witnessed in a 20-point victory over Monaghan last weekend.