Knockout stage arrives in hurling championships

The race for glory in the Meath Hurling Championships reaches the business end today when we have the first of the knockout games and we open up with a very interesting double header in Pairc Tailteann this afternoon.

The games are all ticket and are priced as follows.

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim SHC & JM Food Services IHC Quarter Finals

Adult – €15
Student/OAP – €10
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

K Windows & Doors J2HC Semi-Final

Adult – €5
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

Tickets for all games can be purchased via the Meath GAA App which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.

First up is the JM Food Services IHC quarter final meeting of Rathmolyon and Donaghmore/Ashbourne at 15:00. Rathmolyon’s form in the group stages was more up and down than a dinghy in rough seas but eventually when their need was greatest, they came good with two impressive victories to secure their place in the last six.

An opening weekend defeat to near neighbours Boardsmill seemed to rattle them and while the ship was righted when Drumree were downed in Round 3 they fell to another loss in Round 4 when Navan O’Mahonys took them out in Athboy. This left them needing to come up with something special which they did when accounting for Gaeil Colmcille in a deferred Round 2 game before five days later taking care of Kildalkey.

They now have momentum but could still be vulnerable against a Donaghmore/Ashbourne side who are coming in under the radar.

In Darragh and Michael O’Sullivan the ‘Moors have two of the best forwards in the county at this grade and the recent rapid improvement in the clubs fortunes at juvenile level is beginning to come to fruition in the adult grade. Andrew Tormey who is better known as a footballer has been enjoying himself on the hurling fields this year and along with player/manager Colm O Mealoid, he offers plenty of ball winning ability in the half forward line.

Rhys Thomas, Sam Benville and David Carr are an excellent half back line and bring a physical presence to the side. How the Rathmolyon half forward line of Cathal Regan, Stephen Mulligan and Ciaran Regan cope with this will prove pivotal.

If the game develops into a free taking contest then the two sides have excellent protagonists in this regard in Michael O’Sullivan and Cathal Regan, both of whom are the younger siblings starting in their respective forward lines. This game could go any way.

The main event on the programme this evening is the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim SHC quarter final meeting of near neighbours Kiltale and Kilmessan. Kiltale come into the back of this encounter off the back of a disappointing performance against Kildalkey a fortnight ago, had they won the game they would have had a direct progression to the semi-final but that loss has pitched them into this encounter.

That loss could have even greater consequences as they face into this game with the participation of two players under serious doubt as as the time of writing the outcomes of appeals by Mark O’Sullivan and William Mahady were yet to be announced. Were one or both to miss out then that would be a loss of huge experience and great talent for John O’Donoghues side.

Kilmessan are another side coming into this weekends fare off the back of a topsy turvy campaign but again when it mattered most the dug out the crucial victories in Rounds 4 and 5 to secure their passageway to the last six.

County players Kyle Donnelly and Shane Brennan are both named in the full back line but it will be a major surprise if both don’t find themselves sited in the half back line from the throw in, with one of them designated to pick up Jack Regan for the hour.

How they cope with a Kiltale attack that is loaded with wily forwards such as Peter Durning, Regan and Chris Reilly will be crucial. Kiltale are the more fancied side by most but Kilmessan will relish to opportunity to knock their neighbours out and progress to the semi-finals.

The K Windows & Doors sponsored J2HC semi-final between Kilskyre/Moylagh and Navan O’Mahonys takes place in Athboy and Kilskyre/Moylagh come into the game off the back of the more impressive group stage. If they can maintain that form then they will be hard stopped from progressing to the final.