Abbeyknockmoy on their guard for Antrim men

ABBEYKNOCKMOY will look to continue their fairytale adventure when they meet a fancied Creggan Kickhams of Antrim in an intriguing All-Ireland intermediate semi-final at Pairc Tailteann in Navan this Sunday (1pm).

Boasting a clean bill of health following the return from injury of quartet Brian Costello (knee), Paul Flaherty (knee), Danny Mullins (ankle) and Padraig O’Donnell (hamstring), Abbeyknockmoy, who make a long awaited return to senior hurling later this year, are also bidding to become the first Galway team to win this competition.

It has been some 12 months for the Brian Cooley/Gerry Farragher jointly managed side. The surprise package of the intermediate championship, they enhanced their credentials with a semi-final win over title favourites Kinvara before accounting for Moycullen in the county decider.

They subsequently squeezed past Four Roads of Roscommon – who had historically beaten them in the 1988 provincial senior showpiece – in the Connacht final and, somewhat against the odds, defeated London senior champions and former All-Ireland winners Robert Emmetts, 0-10 to 0-5, in their All-Ireland quarter-final in Ruislip in late November.

“That was a huge win, particularly with all the planning and travelling,” acknowledges joint manager Brian Cooley. “It was probably more comfortable than the scoreline suggested which was great given all the injuries we had, including the three on the day – Paul Flaherty, Danny Mullins and Padraig O’Donnell.

“We played very well and the support over there was brilliant. The lads got through it and were well focused. They were more focused on it than the Four Roads game in a way. The Four Roads game could have been a right banana skin with all the talk of ’88 but in London they were very focused.

“They realised they had a job to do over there before they could celebrate the county and Connacht wins. Again, they played very well out there and we were very proud of them. Hopefully they can bring that into the next game now. We definitely can move another step up.”

The return of Costello, in particular, is a major boost. The former Galway and London inter-county defender had missed out on the knockout stages with a knee injury but after keyhole surgery before Christmas he is back and rearing to go.

“Brian has played two games over the Christmas – one in Limerick on the Astro turf and another down in Milltown against Mayo and he came through them brilliantly. I suppose, when Brian was injured, Brian Flaherty moved to centre-back and he has been playing so well in it now it is hard to know what to do. It is a great position to be in though and a great headache to have.”

Full preview in this week’s Connacht Tribune.