Raharney manager and new Westmeath hurling boss Eamonn Gallagher has praised Ballyhale Shamrocks for agreeing to travel to Mullingar for tomorrow's Leinster club hurling semi-final. The game was originally fixed for Nowlan Park, but Ballyhale, who are hot favourites to advance to another provincial final, sportingly agreed to give up home advantage for the meeting with the Westmeath champions. Gallagher said: "Their gesture is a great boost to hurling in the locality and to all GAA enthusiasts in Westmeath, but this will not weaken them in any way." "Ballyhale will be formidable opposition for us, but then they would be formidable opposition for most clubs in the country. However, all I'm asking is that all the players give 100 per cent and if every player does that, then you can't ask for much more." His Ballyhale counterpart Maurice Aylward stressed that the Kilkenny kingpins won't be taking the home side lightly. "We have a good chance of making the final, but we must be careful," he said. "We will respect Raharney, the way we respect everyone. In our last game (against Rathdonwey-Errill), we showed how serious we are taking this competition." Tweet

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