Originally posted by seoulofgaa:
Well lads the potential disaster of Galway nearly being relegated in the league is over, as Dublin were nicely dispatched by Galway in Portlaoise last Saturday.
Now the lads are gone back home to their clubs to focus on the start of the county championship, the 'bread and butter' of the GAA.
It's a new format this year,luckily enough for Kinvara, with a number of first round game's being played this weekend with Moycullen coming in at a later date and if I am correct, avoiding relegation this year.
Of the top teams, the tie of the round imo is, county champions Gort v St.Thomas's on Sunday at the late in the evening time of 18:45. With Loughrea v Athenry on before it.
According to the bookies Portumna are favourite's, who I think have been quoted at 6/4. Gort and Clarenbride are at 5 or 4/1 ( If somebody got a different price do tell). But imo I would reckon Gort's first round opponent's St. THomas's could be the team to watch this year, at I belive 12/1. In their ranks are they up and coming youthfull outfit led by David and Bernard Burke, James Reagan and Conor Cooney, with the more experienced clubman and former Galway mid-fielder Richie Murray. A good price me's think's for a club with some good hurlers. As for Portumna. Joe look's in fine fettle looking like he has lost a stone and a half. One more county tittle for his brother Ollie? Time will tell. Also this year they're will be club games going on alongside Galway being in the Leinster championship.
Let the games begin with timber a'plenty.

Originally posted by galwayforliam:
I think this new system is a great idea and every game will be vital. It will really add an edge to it right from the very start, something which was missing in other years until the knockout stages. Should be a very open championship with Portumna probably still, on paper at least the strongest team. Gort and the Bridge won't be far away and Loughrea are never easily beaten at any stage. I think it will be another year or 2 before Thomas's are really in contention though. Their team is just so young.In terms of betting I think Kinvara at 11/8 are great value to beat Ardrahan on Saturday. They had a bad year last year but they've a lot of good hurlers in their ranks and according to the tribune Ardrahan have big injury problems

Originally posted by seoulofgaa:
Sorry Perth, did not notice your question. To answer it I just heard it from a chap I used to work with. Maybe you could check John Mullholland on-line and I guess Paddy Powers might take bets on club hurling. I might be wrong about that price which I personally think is not value for money.

Originally posted by ciderman:
Any results from this evenin folks?

Originally posted by cityoftribes:
Cashel and Kiltormer drew. Beagh beat the bridge by 3, Kinvara beat Ardrahan by 3 and TAD beat Pearses by 6.

This message has been edited - 28-apr-2012 @ 21:21

Originally posted by loughcurraman:
The Bridge losing to Beagh ? That's a big upset in my book. TAD was a sure thing and I expected Kinvara to win , and the draw in the other match was not too surprising either. Anyone here at any of the matches and see any players make a big impression who are not on the county panel at the moment ?

Originally posted by cityoftribes:
Ya it's not that surprising really. Bridge are notoriously slow starters and were lucky to get out of the group the year they won it out. Plus, beagh are a hugely underrated team and are always knocking about come the tail end of the championship, a tough hardworking side.I was more surprised at the Cashel Kiltormer result. I had heard that Kiltormer weren't going that well and Cashel are normally decent enough. I wasn't sure myself about the Kinvara Ardrahan game, but had Kinvara in my predictions as I heard Ardrahan had a good few injuries and that Mahon and a few other of the Kinvara lads were going well.It will be interesting now to see if Cunningham call any players up now that he's had a chance to look at a few this weekend.

Originally posted by Stool Pigeon:
Was at Ardrahan/Kinvara and saw half of Beagh/Clarinbridge.Ardrahan didn't appear to be missing anyone in particular from what i could see, Mahon has been hurling like a pig for most of this year but to be fair to him he really stepped it up today when the fat was in the fire in the last 15 minutes. The better team won. Tannian started at midfield and looked in the first half like he was going to win the match for Ardrahan on his own, but rotten finishing from the Ardrahan attack did for them, and failure to trouble the flagmen for the last 20 minutes tells its own story. Plus i got the impression that too many of the Ardrahan players were waiting for Tannian to do the dirty work for them. A great type of game for Kinvara to come out the right side of. Best performance of the day was from referee, former Galway goalkeeper Peter Murphy who was excellent throughout.As for Cashel being 'normally decent enough' for the size of club and the resources at their disposal in terms of numbers they should be a lot better than 'decent enough'.Saw half of Beagh/Clarinbridge, Clarinbridge were at nothing for most of the first half and seemed mired in complacency, possibly assisted by their scoring a very early goal where Paul Coen appeared to me to take far too many steps before finding the net. I didn't see that result coming when i left, fair dues to Beagh, their attitude was spot on all through.

This message has been edited - 29-apr-2012 @ 15:38

Originally posted by cityoftribes:
Ya it's not that surprising really. Bridge are notoriously slow starters and were lucky to get out of the group the year they won it out. Plus, beagh are a hugely underrated team and are always knocking about come the tail end of the championship, a tough hardworking side.I was more surprised at the Cashel Kiltormer result. I had heard that Kiltormer weren't going that well and Cashel are normally decent enough. I wasn't sure myself about the Kinvara Ardrahan game, but had Kinvara in my predictions as I heard Ardrahan had a good few injuries and that Mahon and a few other of the Kinvara lads were going well.It will be interesting now to see if Cunningham call any players up now that he's had a chance to look at a few this weekend.