1. Crossmaglen’s exit blows open Ulster title race
Kilcoo finally ended their Crossmaglen hoodoo in yesterday’s Ulster quarter-final replay.
The sight of a Crossmaglen team trooping off after a provincial defeat was odd. Back in 2005 they lost an Ulster semi-final to Derry side Bellaghy.
But they bounced back to win six of the last seven Ulster titles and the exception was in 2009 when they notably did not win out in Armagh.
That’s what makes yesterday’s loss all the more striking and has the effect of blowing open the Ulster title race. In 2009 Kilcoo broke a 72-year Down title drought. They’ve now won three county titles in five years and after defeating Crossmaglen will be eager for provincial glory.
But next Sunday’s semi-final opponents Ballinderry, who have won five of the last eight Derry championships, are similarly ambitious. And Donegal’s Glenswilly and Fermanagh’s Roslea, who face off in the other semi-final, will want to seize this chance as well.
2. St Vincent’s show resilience yet again
Sunday November 3rd – St Vincent’s trail Ballymun Kickhams by five points with one minute left in the Dublin county final. They fire 1-2 in the finale and scramble a draw. In extra-time they trail once more before Diarmuid Connolly points an 82nd minute free to draw the game.
Wednesday November 6th – St Vincent’s concede 1-2 without reply in the opening minutes, trail by three points at the three-quarter mark, and see Connolly sent-off in the second-half. But Cameron Diamond’s 57th minute point sees them lead for the first time in the game and win the replay by 1-9 to 1-8.
Sunday November 10th – Captain Ger Brennan is sent-off after eight minutes in their Leinster opener and St Vincent’s must play with 14 men against St Loman’s in Mullingar. They trail by a point with ten minutes left but chisel out a 0-11 to 0-9 win, inspired by Mossy Quinn.
It’s been a week then where St Vincent’s displayed their resilience. Having to operate without the suspended Connolly and Brennan, they’ll need that resilience again for the Leinster semi-final against Summerhill.
St Vincent’s Ger Brennan talks with referee Damian Brazil after the game
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
3. Old stager Gilligan steals the limelight in Clare
Clare’s run of underage success has seen them land three All-Ireland U21 titles in the last five years. Products of those teams were on show for county senior final day yesterday when Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus faced off.
Enda Barrett, Caimin Morey, Colin Ryan Seadna Morey, Shane Golden and Kevin Lynch all played at some juncture in those final wins for Clare since 2009. But that wealth of young talent was upstaged yesterday by a 37 year-old whose display shone through in the grim weather conditions.
Niall Gilligan has achieved plenty in his hurling career yet 17 years after winning an All-Ireland title with Sixmilebridge, he was shooting 1-6 to help his club land the Canon Hamilton trophy.
To put Gilligan’s longevity into context, he won on St Patrick’s Day in 1996 alongside Flan Quilligan whose son Aidan captained the Sixmilebridge team to victory yesterday.
Niall Gilligan of Sixmilebridge celbrates with the cup
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
4. Could Sean Stack be set to face familiar faces?
While the current Sixmilebridge side won out yesterday in Cusack Park in Ennis, over 20 miles away at the Gaelic Grounds there was success for a former Sixmilebridge great.
Sean Stack was the manager steering Na Piarsaigh through a gripping Munster club semi-final against Waterford outfit Passage and booking a berth in the provincial decider on Sunday November 24th.
Now here’s the intrigue and spice. Na Piarsaigh sit back and await the identity of their opponents to be revealed in next Sunday’s second Munster semi-final.
That game sees Cork’s Midleton welcome Sixmilebridge to Leeside. Could Stack be set to face familiar faces?
Na Piarsaigh manager Sean Stack
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
5. Castlebar the next obstacle in St Brigid’s drive for success
There is little surprise in St Brigid’s advancing to their seventh provincial final in nine years. They crushed Leitrim’s St Mary’s yesterday and racking up 5-15 is startlingly impressive scoring for this time of year.
They last lost a game in Connacht in the 2007 final by two points to Ballina Stephenites. It’s a club from another major Mayo town that now obstructs their path to four-in-a-row out west.
Corofin may have been tipped to renew acquaintances with St Brigid’s yet opportunist goals and a cohesive display propelled Castlebar Mitchels to victory in their semi-final in Tuam. But St Brigid’s will be a daunting challenge for them to now face.
Castlebar’s Barry Moran with his team mates before the game
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
6. Ballyboden turn their sights to Leinster
Ballyboden St-Enda’s bowed out of the Dublin championship last year at the group stages having won the five previous SHC titles. Their absence from the winners podium was brief though, yesterday they were back collecting silverware after defeating Lucan Sarsfields.
Six county final wins in seven years is impressive going. Translating that into provincial success has been fruitless though for Ballyboden. They start their 2013 campaign next Sunday with a semi-final against Carlow’s Mount Leinster Rangers. And making provincial progress will be their key objective now.
Ballyboden St Endas Conal Keaney lifts the cup
Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
