After what seems like an eternity (Two weeks to be exact) the hurling leagues re-commence tonight and I for one can’t wait to get the camera and notebook out. There’s a number of exciting fixtures down for decision with Cuchullains v Loughgiel the one sure to attract the biggest crowd.
The corresponding fixture in Loughgiel on the 22nd May saw league leaders Dunloy emerge victorious by five points and they will start favourites tonight to extend their lead at the top of the division to six points but you never know when these two heavyweights meet and a win for the visitors would close the gap to two.
The Ballycastle game against Rossa has been moved to Friday night and this one again looks interesting for different reasons. These sides meet in a home and away preliminary round of the championship later in the year and Friday night may give an indication as to where the respective sides are with their preparations.
Division 2 looks equally interesting and again brings about a clash of the top two in the division when Sarsfields travel to Hightown where they meet their nearest challengers in the division, St. Enda’s. Only score difference separate these two.
Sarsfields had ten points to spare when they hammered tonight’s opposition at the Bear Pit at the start of May but St. Enda’s have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks with wins over Carey, Creggan, St. Brigid’s Cloughmills, Glenariffe and Dungannon Eoghan Ruadh and manager ‘Sambo’ McNaughton will be hoping to carry that good run of form into tonight’s fixture.
Elsewhere in the division Kickham’s Creggan will be hoping to stay in touch with the top two when they entertain Cathaoir an Ri while Ghaeil Chluanaidh have Oisin Glenariffe as visitors and bottom two, Glen Rovers meet again in Armoy, St. Brigid’s having won the corresponding fixture in Cloughmills.
In division 3 Gort na Mona take on Bredagh at Cherryvale and a win for the Gorts would make them very difficult to catch at the top of the division while Carryduff entertain St. Paul’s and Shane O’Neill’s travel to Dreen to meet Rasharkin in what could be a close encounter if both sides field at full strength.
All games, with the exception of Portaferry v Cushendall and Rasharkin v Glenarm are at 7.30 with those two starting at 7.45. The Saffron Gael will be endeavouring to cover as many games as possible but if we do not have someone at your game we would ask your PRO’S to send us a report.