Last of the group stage games have the knockout feel

The action in the group stages of the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship, Loman Dempsey Property Consultants Senior B Hurling Championship and Abbey Pharmacy Intermediate Hurling Championship draws to a conclusion this weekend and despite the games being in the round robin stage of the competition, there is a knockout look to the action.

Tickets for the games are available via the link:  Club Hurling Championship Tickets

There is no doubting what fixture will grab the most attention as one of the big guns is likely to be sent packing from the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim SHC when Ratoath and Trim face off at 16:00 on Sunday in Devenish Park, Dunganny.  Both sides are tied on five points with Kiltale going into Round 5 but Kiltale will be fancied to defeat a Na Fianna side that has lost all four of their games to date.

Games between Trim and Ratoath tend to be excellent encounters and with so much riding on the result of this encounter, anothe belter is predicted on Sunday afternoon in the county Centre of Excellence.

Trim have freshened up their side from that which was named to start their Round 4 game, with Dimmy Higgins and James Andrews bringing their considerable experience to the side.  Mark Molloy and David Murtagh bring a fresh look to the midfield, with Higgins slotting in at left half back.

The inside line of their attack is freshened up completely with James Murray moving in to full forward, and he is joined by Mikey Cole and Conor Quigley in the corners.

Should Murray line up there then the physical battle he has with Darragh Kelly at full back for Ratoath will be huge and there is an inkling that the Trim selection is to counteract the size of the Ratoath selection which has big units in every line of the pitch.

Liam Corbett, Kelly and Conor McGill form a full back line that is as tough and physical as any in the county but all three are also excellent hurlers, and there is little doubt that Ratoath have a fine blend of silky skills with the toughness.

It would be a brave pundit to predict the outcome of this encounter and one suspects that we will be no closer to knowing the outcome with five minutes to go than we will be five minutes before the throw in.

Should Kiltale get the result that they are fancied by most observers to get against Na Fianna then they will book their spot in the semi-finals and if Kildalkey can beat Kilmessan, they will avoid a relegation playoff (subject to Na Fianna losing their game).

In the Loman Dempsey Property Consultants SHC B, Kilskyre/Moylagh are safely into the final and it is a three way battle between Dunderry, Killyon and Longwood to see who joins them in the knockout stages.

Looking at the Abbey Pharmacy IHC, Rathmolyon are also securely in the final and two from three of Drumree, Clann na nGael and St. Peter’s Dunboyne are likely to join them although Donaghmore/Ashbourne know that a win over Gaeil Colmcille could also see them join the conversation about the knockout places.

Sunday’s Fixtures

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship Round 5

Ratoath vs Trim.  16:00.  Venue:  Devenish Park, Dunganny.

Kiltale vs Na Fianna.  16:00.  Venue:  Longwood

Kilmessan vs Kildalkey.  16:00.  Venue:  Boardsmill

There was no panel submitted by Kildalkey. 

Loman Dempsey Property Consultants Senior B Hurling Championship Round 5

Dunderry vs Killyon.  13:00.  Venue:  Fr. Plunkett Memorial Park, Kildalkey

Kilskyre/Moylagh vs Longwood.  13:00.  Venue:  Athboy

Blackhall Gaels vs Navan O’Mahony’s.  13:00.  Venue:  Kiltale

K Windows & Doors Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Drumree vs Kildalkey.  11:00.  Venue:  Drumree

There was no panel submitted by Kildalkey.

Saturday’s Fixtures

Abbey Pharmacy Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 5

Drumree vs Clann na nGael.  17:00.  Venue:  St. Loman’s Park, Trim

For the fifth round in succession, Clann na nGael have not submitted a panel. 

St. Peter’s Dunboyne vs Rathmolyon.  17:00.  Venue:  Batterstown

For the fourth round out of five, St. Peter’s Dunboyne have not submitted a panel. 

Donaghmore/Ashbourne vs Gaeil Colmcille.  17:00.  Venue:  St. Loman’s Park, Trim

There was no panel submitted by Gaeil Colmcille. 

The results to date this week