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Can Offaly Complete A Clean Sweep Of Finalists Across The Grades In Leinster Club Hurling?

Thursday, 9 December 2021 21:30

Clodiagh Gaels and Shamrocks will both have to win on the road to do so.

It could be a historic weekend for club hurling in Offaly. 

There's potential for the county to send finalists to provincial deciders in the senior, intermediate and junior grades, if all goes to plan. That would be a sensational achievement for all the clubs involved and a hat tip to the competitiveness and standard of play within the county. 

Here's how a faithful full house of finalists can come to pass: 

Maynooth vs Shamrocks - Saturday (1pm) - Hawkfield

Shamrocks reach this stage having (with respect to the club) dismantled Boardsmill of Meath in the last eight on a scoreline of 2-18 to 0-3. They're fielding a decent blend of youth and experience for this level but their biggest test to date will definitely come in the form of the Kildare junior champions this weekend. 

Maynooth also entered the provincial series at the quarter-final stage and put what was previously an impressive looking Trumera outfit to the sword in convincing fashion. Eight points the finishing margin. They've performed very well in their local championship this season and by all accounts, much is expected of them as they continue this Leinster campaign. 

There's a massive hinterland around Maynooth to choose from and being such a big part of the commuter belt for Dublin, it's a club that could go from strength to strength in future. 

None of that will factor into this weekend however and Shamrocks could just have the edge at the close of play. 

Olyegate-Glenbrien vs Clodiagh Gaels - Saturday (2pm) - Enniscorthy

By their own account Clodiagh Gaels are in bonus territory for 2021. 

Winning the Intermediate Championship in Offaly was the stated goal for the year, and even as their quarter-final tie with Kildalkey of Meath approached last week, there was still a feeling of euphoria in the parish with their return to the senior championship in Offaly. 

That said it was a thoroughly professional performance from the get go in O'Connor Park. They triumphed by the narrowest of margins, 1-14 to 1-13 after having to battle back from having a man dismissed in the first half. They trailed by eight at the break but roared back into the game with the wind at their back and through the accurate free taking of Dwayne Dunne in the second-half. 

Wexford champions Olyegate-Glenbrien will be an altogether different proposition this week however and the fact that Clodiagh Gaels must make the long trip to the South-East only adds to that challenge. 

Olyegate-Glenbrien dismissed Bray Emmets with ease last weekend, putting up 5-12 on the scoreboard in doing so. Their premier attacker is Seamus Casey who notched a remarkable 4-3 on the day against the Wicklow side. Only two of those scores were from placed balls. 

We will take a closer look at the senior semi-final between St. Rynagh's and Ballyhale Shamrocks later. 

 

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