Good win for Castletown. Sounded like a reasonably entertaining game too.
Not SHC I know, but some good games in store today.
Portlaoise v Camross
The obvious answer is Portlaoise...but... Camross will rattle this big time. The seniors gone will have afforded them the opportunity to prepare fully for this one. It’s actually rare enough that a second team gets the space and preference to do that. They have of course lost a few and that will certainly limit them a little. Literred with clever former seniors and backed up by guys who have hurled Senior quite a bit at league and Palmer Cup level over the last year or two.
Cleverness on the field and on the line here. One of the most underrated coaches in Laois in charge. And I think they will take this.
Presuming Healy won’t be there, and even with the influence of Tommy Fitz and O’ Mahoney, I think Camross’ defence could well hold out.
Mossey Burke v Ciaran McEvoy could be crucial. Neither will stay in their position and are both likely to hurl a lot of loose ball. Where Taylor plays & how fit he is could be deciding factor in this one.
Difficult one to call, if Taylor doesn’t hurl outfield I’d go with Camross by 4.
The Harps v Slieve Bloom
The Harps should have too much here, and I can’t see them being caught. Fantastic year for Slieve Bloom, but they are operating with less quality and a smaller panel.
Key thing for The Harps is not to overcomplicate things.
Watching them over the past few years and I think perhaps management could be guilty of trying to outwit oppositions tactically and losing the focus of their own strengths- they are man for man well ahead of all other teams at this level. There is a place for tactical innovation and a place for simplifying things: this is the latter.
Unlike Healy, I am told that Ben Conroy will figure, but I don’t think that will be enough.
The Harps by 8
Colt Shanahoe to beat a dogged Mountrath.
In the intermediate I’d go for Clough Ballacolla & Rathdowney Errill.