Stakes are high in last round of group matches

STEPHEN GLENNON

AFTER Galway’s superb – even sublime – victory over Kilkenny in the Leinster final last Sunday, it’s back to the brass tacks of the local senior hurling and intermediate championships this weekend. 

Aside from Group D – in which Loughrea and St. Thomas have already qualified for the quarter-finals – there is plenty to play for in the other three groups, no more so than in Group C where, remarkably, all four teams can still make the knockout stages. 

Turloughmore and Sarsfields lead the way with three points each in that group but chasing close on their heels are their respective opponents this Sunday, namely Beagh and Mullagh. Indeed, it’s possible all four teams could finish on the same number of points, leaving the pecking order to be sorted out on scoring difference.

In Group A, county champions Gort top the group but still need to account for Tommie Larkins to cement their place. That said, even if Larkins do cause an upset this weekend, Gort’s scoring difference of +42 should be enough to qualify them for the final eight.

That leaves Larkins and Padraig Pearses vying for the other spot, with an expected Pearses victory over lowly Moycullen to book their berth in the quarter-finals.

A similar situation arises in Group B where Portumna have already qualified for September’s fare, leaving Castlegar and Craughwell – who meet on Sunday evening – fighting it out for the remaining quarter-final place.

In the intermediate championship, matters are just as tight although the leading lights should begin to emerge following the final series of grouop games on Saturday evening (See fixtures).

FRIDAY

Gort v Tommie Larkins(Loughrea, 7pm)Gort look set to be without four first choice regulars for this game. Defenders Mark McMahon (knee) and Brian Regan (ankle) are both missing through injury while the versatile Sylvie Óg Linnane and corner forward Gerard O’Donoghue are unavailable. It means the management will have to dip into their intermediate team for some of their reinforcements.

Tommie Larkins were ambushed by Padraig Pearses in the last round and, consequently, must win this game – and hope Moycullen do them a favour – to be in with any shout of progressing. Noel Murphy has no injury worries and he will hope Jason Flynn can continue his rich vein of form and find the net in this one. Verdict: Gort.

Padraig Pearses v Moycullen(Kenny Park, Athenry 7pm)Tommie Larkins won’t want to hear this, but according to Moycullen manager Fergal Clancy, they “are down to the bare bones for this one”. Already without several first choice players, including corner back Richie Deavney, who is getting married on Saturday, Moycullen lost midfielder Pat Lydon to a broken collarbone earlier this week. The promising Eanna Malone (holidays) is also unavailable for this clash.

As for Pearses – who still have Colm Raftery on the long-term injury list – they can boast of a clean bill of health. Manager John Raftery is expecting a backlash of sorts from Moycullen after the drubbing the Ghaeltacht men received at the hands of Gort but given the form Pearses are in – and, in particular, Cyril Donnellan – the Ballymacward/Gurteen outfit should have enough to progress. Verdict: Pearses.For more, read this week's

Connacht Tribune.