Galway manager Pádraic Joyce says he took time to reflect and consider if he should continue as the senior county manager. But the dream to win the Sam Maguire Cup for his county for the first time since his own playing days in 2001 has kept him going. Joyce begins his 7th championship campaign on Saturday when Galway play Leitrim in the first of the Connacht semi-finals in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Leitrim, who are now managed by Down native Steven Poacher, caused a mild surprise with their one-point win over Sligo in the quarter-final, but I cannot see them troubling Galway. Then on Sunday it’s Mayo versus Roscommon in MacHale Park. Mayo beat the Rossies by 21 points when the counties met in the National League in Castlebar at the end of March. They should win again on Sunday, but it will probably be by a smaller margin. After overcoming Tyrone in Ulster’s famous preliminary round, Armagh will now travel to Enniskillen on Saturday evening to play Fermanagh in the first round proper. I reckon Armagh will be much too strong for the Erne men.
ROUND ROBIN
IN HURLING
Plenty of hurling action also this weekend with Round Robin games in Munster and Leinster. In the old days the meeting of Kilkenny and Wexford was a major clash, but Wexford have dropped down the pecking order in recent years. Can the Yellow Bellies rise to the occasion when the Cats travel to Wexford Park on Saturday evening.? On Sunday most of the focus will be on Pairc Ui Chaoimh where Cork will be hoping to make up for their National League final defeat to Limerick, when John Kiely’s brings his team to the Ballintemple venue. Also on Sunday reigning All-Ireland champion Tipperary travel to Walsh Park to play Waterford.
