Local derbies all the rage
LOCAL derbies are very much the norm this weekend as the second round of the Galway senior football championship swings into action.
While Corofin and Tuam Stars may be the pick, what adds a great deal of spice to proceedings is that, for the ten teams which lost their opening SFC games, this series of fixtures is last chance saloon in terms of their 2014 campaign.
In this respect, the derby clashes of Kilkerrin/Clonberne v Cortoon Shamrocks, Mountbellew/Moylough v Menlough, Carna Caiseal v Micheal Breathnach and, to a lesser extent, the meeting of Barna v Leitir Móir should hit fever pitch.
Indeed, with Barna man Bert Curran in charge of Leitir Móir and former Leitir Móir coach Sean Conlon now with Barna, the scene is set for what could also be, in effect, a relegation decider, given where these two teams are at currently.
In terms of a second round shock, the Salthill/Knocknacarra v Kilconly tie has potential while don’t discount St. Michael’s (v Killererin), Caltra (v Caherlistrane) and An Cheathrú Rua (v Annaghdown) also causing upsets of sorts.
Aside from the Corofin v Tuam Stars contest, the tie of the round has to be between arguably the two great pretenders, Milltown and St. James’ – a game that follows the meeting of Galway and Mayo in the Connacht minor semi-final at Tuam Stadium.
Indeed, a number of clubs expressed their disappointment that they had to field in the championship this weekend given they had players involved with the county’s U-18 squad, noting with emigration, students going abroad and injuries, it was putting extra pressure on their playing resources.
SATURDAY
Milltown v St. James’
(Tuam Stadium, 7:45pm)
It will be interesting to see what kind of response St. James’ duo Johnny Duane and Eoin Concannon will muster for the club following their well-publicised expulsion from the Galway senior set-up for disciplinary breaches. By all accounts, they are working hard. Duane (ankle) though is an injury concern as are Alan Deacy (ankle), Shane Coughlan (arm), Mark Kelly (knee) and Owen Teagle (ankle). David O’Connell has also been struggling with a virus.
Milltown and Galway forward James Kavanagh (hamstring) continues to be a major injury doubt and he is due to undergo another assessment with the inter-county set-up this week. While John Devane is still troubled by an ankle injury, on a more positive note, Diarmuid Blake (hamstring) and substitute John Hynes (ankle) both featured in the 0-13 to 0-3 victory over Menlough.
This is a game that definitely hinges on which players both sides have available and if Kavanagh fails to make it, one would imagine that would give St. James’ a slender advantage.
Verdict: St. James’.
Match odds: Milltown 4/5; draw 6/1; St. James’ 5/4.