Tasty derby in sunny south-east

And then there were seven.

To Nowlan Park tonight, then, for the concluding episode of a tumultuous All-Ireland qualifier phase and a fight for the middleweight championship of the south-east. (The other team in the region box is in a heavier division.) A nicely matched bout too. Like versus like. Have a glance over at the other team and it’s almost the same as looking in the mirror.

Two counties with bright young managers. Both with largely inexperienced crews, complemented by a leavening of salty old sea dogs. Both of having departed their respective provincial championships with regrets, one because they weren’t quite savvy enough to hold onto their lead, the other because they weren’t quite accurate enough to make their opponents really squirm. Both of them with, inarguably, better days ahead of them. Victory this evening will announce that in 144-point CAPITALS, bolded, and send their fans home smiling to spend the winter dreaming of still greater joys in 2015.