Galway take on North West in quest for first title

TODAY’S Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields programme at Rosslare sees the big guns go into action in the Irish Senior Cup.

North West from Co Donegal are the favourites because of the presence of British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney and international Michael McGeady.

Nevertheless, they may not have the strength to cope with Galway, smarting from yesterday’s defeats in the Barton Shield and Junior Cup and chasing a first Senior Cup title.

In the other semi-final, Limerick take on Hermitage without last year’s South of Ireland champion Cian McNamara, who has returned to college at East Tennessee State having represented Ireland in the Home Internationals last week.

Today’s timetable: Senior Cup semi-finals, 9.30am: North West v Galway

(North West names first)

P MacLochlainn v J Neary; B McElhinney v E McCormack; M McGeady v M O’Sullivan; P O’Flaherty v J Lyons; G Mallon v T Nolan.

10.20am: Limerick v Hermitage

(Limerick names first)

P Murray v B O’Connor; M O’Kelly v G Bowden; D Morris v S O’Flaherty; M Kemmy v G Massey; G Vaughan v A Dowling.

11.30am: Pierce Purcell Shield Final, Castleblayney v Castletroy

(Castleblayney names first)

E Tavey & P King v M Lucey & K Tracey; M Fee & M Rafter v B Hanrahan & T Frawley; N Flanagan & M Moore v K Punch & P McNamara; J Quinn & B Coleman v T Guinan & T Delaney; E Toal & F Murphy v T Coffey & M Tracey.

Jimmy Bruen Shield semi-finals, 1pm: The Island v Mannan Castle

(The Island names first)

J Cuffe & S Rogers v T Donagher & F Kelly; D Gaffney & B Hughes v S Finnegan & S Donahue; A Sheridan & I McCormack v S Corr & N Gartlan; G Dowdall & D Weldon v B McCourt & D Carr; N Rogers & C Whyte v R Fitzhenry & B McMahon.

1.50pm: Carrick On Shannon v Ballybunion

(Carrick On Shannon names first)

N Sharkey & A Ffrench v B McKeon & E O’Shaughnessy; S Mulvey & A Hogg v D O’Connor & D Mulvihill; F Gately & J Martin v E Stack & D Moriarty; N McDermott & J Casey v J Murphy & K Kennelly; S Bohan & D Burke v M Dilger & D O’Donnell.