Hectic January schedule facing Galway teams at club and county level

THE GAA season is no sooner over — and Christmas not even celebrated — and already January is shaping up to be one of the busiest months of the 2020 GAA calendar.

With the All-Ireland club championships pulled forward to January — the senior finals will take place on Sunday, January 19 — St. Thomas’ and Corofin will have little time to rest on their laurels over the festive season as they prepare for their semi-final fixtures on the opening weekend of 2020.

Reigning All-Ireland champions Corofin put their title on the line when they face Nemo Rangers in their semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis, on Saturday, January 4 (1:30pm). When these two sides met in the 2018 national decider, Kevin O’Brien’s outfit handed out a 2-19 to 0-10 thumping to the Munster champions. The Cork men have been on a revenge mission ever since.

Twenty-four hours later, St. Thomas’ will be in action against Borrisoleigh at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick (4pm). The Tipperary and Munster SHC winners are now under the tutelage of former All-Ireland winning Portumna manager Johnny Keane and he will be wholly familiar with the St. Thomas’ players, having done battle with them many times in the past.

On the same weekend, Connacht JHC champions, Micheal Breathnach, are due to face Cork’s Russell Rovers, who enjoyed a 2-13 to 0-11 victory over St. Mary’s of Waterford in the Munster showpiece last weekend, in their semi-final.

A week later, Galway and Connacht IFC winners Oughterard will seek to keep the fairytale alive when they take on Templenoe of Kerry in their All-Ireland club intermediate football semi-final. The winners will advance to the final on Saturday, January 25.

During this period, Galway’s senior footballers and hurlers, both under new managements, will commence their campaigns with their respective pre-season tournaments.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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