1. Chaos in Kerry
We’ve been following this one closely over the last 24 hours, following yesterday’s drawn county senior football final in Kerry between South Kerry and Legion.
Once the full-time whistle blew, and with the benefit of hindsight perhaps there should have been extra time, major problems began to surface.
There was a free for all on the pitch but fixtures-makers were left with another crisis on their hands in the boardrooms.
Who now would play Cork’s Nemo Rangers in the AIB Munster senior club football semi-final next Sunday?
After some to-ing and fro-ing behind the scenes, we brought you the news earlier today that Killarney Legion will provide the opposition for Nemo at Páirc Uí Rinn next Sunday, before facing into a replay with South Kerry a week later.
Dingle, the reigning club champions in the Kingdom, are not best pleased, as you might expect.
2. Gunners march on in Munster
Fresh from winning the Waterford senior club hurling championship, Ballygunner booked their place in a first AIB Munster final since 2009 yesterday, scoring a stunning victory over Glen Rovers.
The Gunners will play Tipperary’s Thurles Sarsfields or Na Piarsaigh in the provincial showpiece, with those clubs set to meet next Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds.
The Gunners were in big trouble at half-time yesterday but produced a phenomenal wind-assisted second half display.
Brian O’Sullivan was brilliant on placed balls and not even this brilliant second half goal from Patrick Horgan could prevent defeat for the Glen:
http://vine.co/v/el7amnTU3FK
3. Tipperary hurler’s bizarre injury
The senior club championships may get the vast majority of column inches but the intermediate and junior competitions continues apace across the country also.
In the Munster intermediate semi-final between Tipperary outfit Clonakenny and Cork’s Newcestown yesterday, a Clonakenny player had a pretty horrific run-in with one of his teammate’s headgear.
Conor Ryan had his hand impaled on John Joe Ryan’s helmet and underwent surgery this morning to have it removed.
Conor spent the night with John Joe’s helmet strapped to his hand but we reckon he’ll be back in plenty of time for the 2016 season, when Clonakenny begin life as a senior club in the Premier County after recently capturing intermediate honours.
4. Cuala emerge as dark horses
Dublin club hurling champions Cuala are not content with just winning the county title for the first time in 21 years, it seems.
On Sunday, they stormed past the challenge of Coolderry in the Leinster quarter-final, setting up a semi-final clash with Clara in the last four of the provincial competition.
Cuala are a very decent outfit and while they might be without Paul Schutte for the remainder of the campaign because of a shoulder injury, brother Mark is on fire in attack.
Kerry native Darragh O’Connell was impressive again yesterday while Tipp and Kilkenny are represented on the Cuala team by Shane Stapleton and Cian Waldron respectively.
Mark Schutte is the ace in the pack but Dublin teammate David Treacy has been excellent from play and placed balls, and will punish any Clara indiscretions.
5. Leinster club football championship reaching a gripping climax
The scene is set for two cracking AIB Leinster senior club football semi-finals after the weekend’s quarter-finals.
Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda’s are red-hot favourites with the bookies for provincial glory but they’ll have their hands full with St Loman’s of Westmeath.
The second semi-final is another intriguing affair, between Portlaoise and Emmet Og Killoe of Longford.
Portlaoise have won the Leinster championship seven times but will Killoe can’t be discounted after seeing off Meath kingpins Navan O’Mahony’s on Sunday.
Both semi-finals are down for decision on 22 November, with the final pencilled in for 6 December.
