Both Club Senior Hurling semi finals are down for decision this Saturday. Ruairi Og Cushendall From Antrim take on Sarsfields from Galway in Navan, while at Semple Stadium Na Piarsaigh from Limerick and Oulart The Ballaght Wexford do battle for the other final spot. Piarsaigh and Sarsfields are probably favourites to qualify here but it would be no surprise if either Cushendall or Oulart got through.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 03/02/2016 14:44:51    1821943

I don't know much about the current Sarsfields team but Cushendall are probably more experienced at this level (in recent years) but never seem to push on. NAPs were impressive in Munster but Oulart will relish being underdogs again.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/02/2016 16:01:31    1821985

I'd be surprised if nap weren't comfortable winners and drove on in the final. Different level

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 03/02/2016 18:55:38    1822029

I fancy Na Piarsaigh to have a little too much for Oulart.The other semi final is hard to call as i have not seen either team this year.Galway's championship is ultra competetive,with numerous All Ireland's residing in the county,so for this reason Sarsfields get the nod.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 03/02/2016 19:22:03    1822038

Theres lots of all irelands residing there because they only have to win 2 more matches after their county championship. No fault of there own and im not saying those teams weren't strong but it's a fair point..

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts: 1055 - 03/02/2016 21:08:40    1822069

I'd be surprised if nap weren't comfortable winners and drove on in the final. Different level

blackspot91 (Limerick) - Posts:352 - 03/02/2016 18:55:38

dont say that blackspot!! you know what limerick teams are like when we are over confident !!!!! - best of luck na piarsaigh hope ye do it

janesboro (Limerick) - Posts: 1502 - 03/02/2016 21:15:56    1822072

Blackspot,

maybe there are lots of Club All Irelands in Galway ( more than any other county) because they have had the best teams? Did that thought ever cross your mind?

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 04/02/2016 11:36:05    1822143

I fancy Na Piarsaigh to edge the result against oulart due mainly to their strength and physique particularly given the time of the year and potential weather conditions

I don't know a lot about Sarsfields tbh apart from their all Ireland winning teams in the 90's. Galway sides have a very good record at this stage and as we all know the Galway championship is almost impossible to call so they'll be there on merit.
However, ive a feeling this could finally be the year Cushendall could make it to Paddy's Day and may possibly pip Sarsfields after extra time.
Neil McManus and Aaron Graffin apparently going travelling next year, so I think they in particular will be putting a huge effort into this game. I would also expect Shane & Christy McNaughton to have big games hence siding with Cushendall.

Looking forward to both games mind you!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 04/02/2016 12:51:41    1822181

Na Piarsaigh are the bookies favourites, with Paddy Power quoting them at 4/7. Oulart are odds of 10/3 , with Sarsfields at 9/2, and Cushendall at 11/1. Antrim teams haven't done too badly in this competition over the years with Loughgiel Shamrocks winning the Tommy Moore Cup on two occasions, so that seems decent odds on Ruri Og.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 04/02/2016 13:07:28    1822190

In relation to Galway teams only having to win two games outside their own county to win a club All Ireland,i think it is an advantage.
A county champion in Munster & Leinster will have to win an extra two or three games to win their Provincial title.Against champions of other strong hurling counties.
It has to be an advantage to any Galway team to sail straight away into an All Ire semi final.However,this is not Galway's fault and they certainly make the most of this anomaly.Their clubs probably would have won the majority of All Irelands one way or the other.Not all i'd say.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 04/02/2016 13:21:28    1822196

I think the outsiders in both games are good bets. Cushendall by 4-5 and Oulart by 1

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 04/02/2016 13:39:13    1822208

I don't know where all this optimism for Cushendall is coming from. The Antrim senior hurling Championship has been pretty poor this year and Cushendall struggled at times in their Ulster Championship games, they were very unconvincing. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see them win, and they probably have the most picturesque ground in Ireland, but Sarsfields to win by at least 10 points easing up.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9702 - 04/02/2016 13:55:20    1822213

Oulart are a big strong team and very experienced, they will relish the underdogs tag against Na P. Na P have a very talented side but at this time of year it is often the team with the extra bite and luck on the day that will prevail. All those years of hurt have to count for something and I predict a narrow Oulart victory.
The s/f is very difficult to call, Cushendall won convincingly in Antrim so its hard to gauge where they are. I thought the Galway final was one of the poorest in years but with the cooneys and kevin hynes on board they should have too much for the Dall.

Brendanj (Westmeath) - Posts: 67 - 04/02/2016 14:29:28    1822232

Brendan,

Cushendall certainly did not win antrim convincingly, they came back from 5 points down with 2/3 mins to play against St.Johns, they were 9 behind in the final against ballycastle at ht and won by 4. They also beat loughgiel by 2 or 3 if im right in a replayed match and beat slaughtneil after extra time and a replay.

Ulsterman to answer your question, everything above points to them having a more steelier resolve this year hence my optimism for them. They certainly cant say they came in undercooked if they lose on Saturday.

I also think their well documented rivalry with Loughgiel and being the only one from the north antrim quartet of clubs yet to play on paddys day will also drive them on.

Its a cert now i'll jinx them ffs!!

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 04/02/2016 15:23:05    1822258

A big factor for the semi finals will be, as it is every year, who will best handle the two month winter layoff. All teams are flying before the break after winning their County Championship, and then their Provincial Championship [ bar the Galway winners of course] but then comes the two month winter break. Whatever managers or coaches handle that right and get their team up to where they were before the break will have the greatest chance of success.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 04/02/2016 15:33:37    1822264

Ulsterman ease off on them predictions! I'd be shocked if cushendall don't win this. Couldn't understand what the bookies were on about with the odds in this one

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 06/02/2016 14:57:38    1822835

It's crazy that Antrim and in division 2a and the Christy Ring this year when their clubs always seem to do very well in the all-Ireland series.

They'd want to be back in division 1b and Liam McCarthy for next year.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 06/02/2016 15:21:06    1822845

PS whoever the cushendall manager is, he has done a really good job cos they are really well drilled and fluid.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 06/02/2016 15:22:56    1822846

Congrats to Cushendall.By far the better team.Lots of good hurling and seemed to out-fight the Galway men.Will be hard to beat in the final

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 06/02/2016 15:26:21    1822847

Well done Cushendall. Only Kilkenny, Cork, Galway, Tipp and Offaly have a better record in the All-Ireland Club hurling than Antrim. What a shame we can't translate that to inter-county success.

M Lyster (Antrim) - Posts: 461 - 06/02/2016 15:27:32    1822848