Sunday Gaelic Park Previews

Irish Voice Sport

Sunday Gaelic Park Previews

July 16, 2008

By Eugene Kyne

1 p.m.: Hurling, Belfast Cu Cuchullians vs. NY under-16s

A NOVEL pairing to open the day at Gaelic Park, with a visiting team from Belfast taking on New York before both head for Philadelphia the following week for the CYC games.

The Cu Cuchullians are an enthralling story. It is a cross community hurling team made up from four Belfast schools. Each school provides five players. Two schools are from the Protestant community — Boys Model School and Ashfield Boys School — while St. Patrick’s and Corpus Christi are Catholic.

The Protestant boys are having their first introduction to hurling with all of the squad in the 14 to 15 age group. It is a step to intertwine the communities in the love of sport, and it is a tremendous credit to the coaches and players to embark on this groundbreaking trip to the States.

New York hurling board chairman Brendan O’Sullivan, who has been very active in the underage coaching here, has helped in the organization of this fixture and his enthusiasm was very apparent when talking about the game. “We have a number of senior players helping out with the coaching and Sunday should be a very competitive game. We are really looking forward to the game and the Philadelphia trip,” he said.

Come early then for a great contest that will put the future hurlers of New York on show against their international rivals!

2:30 p.m.: SH Galway vs. Offaly

WITH three of the four teams qualifying for the playoffs, time is of the essence for Galway to make a run. They have three losses thus far and need to get a win badly.

Sean Glynn is a quality forward. Dave Simms is one of the top keepers, and scoring doesn’t seem to be a problem. It is stopping the wave in the other direction that is.

That will come in gallons from Offaly. They have a quality lineout across the field. The marking capabilities of Phil Wickham, Dan Dwyer and Aiden Ryan are impressive, while the attacking options are seven fold. Donal Broderick, who is lively as a hurler and a footballer for St Ray’s, Damien Clifford, who has been their top scorer so far, and Niall Mulvihill are deadly dangerous in front of goal.

What may turn the tide in Galway’s favor will be the weekend players. Look for men from possibly Clare, Limerick or Laois.

It still might not be enough. Offaly by 10 in a high scoring affair.

4 p.m.: SF Donegal vs. Four Provinces

AFTER last Sunday’s nail biting loss to St. Barnabas, 4P’s will look to get the taste of defeat out of their system ASAP. The senior division has seven squads that are all within shouting distance of each other, and there are no sure things. Just ask Cork, who were tied last weekend by a last minute Donegal goal from CJ Molloy.

Donegal have been close in quite a few games, and they have some quality players on their panel. Rory Sweeney should be getting a call up to the New York panel for the fall, Jack Donnelly, big CJ, Kevin Lilly, who can still get valuable scores when given any space, and Anton Diver, who will run forever, are their backbone.

Four P’s will want to rebound, and the back line will look to be the spring board. David Doyle, Ciaran Haggerty and the returning James Flaherty from Clara in Offaly are rugged man markers. Once Flaherty gets back in the swing he can be a rock in the center.

Up front Mike Higgins has been Mister Consistency, Ciaran O’Donnell needs to be used in the middle of the park; he is a loss up front. Ryan Kiely and Paul Walsh are creative, but Walsh also looks like he needs to be out the park for best production.

Where does this leave the prediction then? If 4P’s click then a seven point win.

5:30 p.m.: SF, Leitrim vs. Kerry

THE final game of the afternoon pits old rivals in New York circles in a head to head battle.

Kerry’s season hangs on the balance of two games that are sitting with the New York board due to a player’s legality. It would leave them four points less in the standings if they lose those appeals, which makes this game all the more important.

They certainly have some of the best home based talent in New York, but will be missing Ross Donovan this time due to a suspension. They will need Dermie Foley and Stephen Kavanagh to step up on the scoring end to replace Donavan’s scoring prowess. Declan Griffin, who came over from Feale Rangers, is an excellent player coming out of the back with the ball in hand, while Niall Corbett has few peers in town.

Leitrim will be delighted with last week’s result against Down where their defense was the raison d’être for the victory. Power and Foley are the terrible twins at the back, both having terrific seasons. The Slowey brothers have their enthusiasm for the game back as well, and while Martin plays right on the edge he is a brilliant defensive minded player. The scoring is in Donal Hartnett’s hands as Dan Doona is now strictly a play maker.

If Kerry breaks down the Leitrim D, then it’s a Kingdom four point victory.

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