No place to hide as clubs gear up for ‘do or die’ group battles

IT’S crunch time for a number of senior clubs – including reigning county and All-Ireland champions St. Thomas’ – as the groups stage of the 2013 senior hurling title race reaches what promises to be a dramatic climax this weekend.

In Group A, Clarinbridge lead the way ahead of Portumna and St. Thomas’ but they are still under serious pressure to advance to the knockout stages given they must secure at the very least a draw against defending champions, St. Thomas’.

With Ardrahan already qualified in Group B, it leaves Turloughmore and Gort battling it out for the remaining spot. Turloughmore are in a strong position to advance but they will need to secure some sort of result against Ardrahan to make certain.

As for 2011 champions Gort, they must defeat Mullagh, who are out of the running, and hope Ardrahan can continue their winning ways with a win over Micheal Donoghue’s charges.

Loughrea look odds on to secure one of the spots from Group C while Padraig Pearse have qualified from Group D. It means the Castlegar v Kinvara and Kiltormer v Beagh head-to-heads in groups C and D respectively for the remaining quarter-final berths should be contested down to the last breath.

FRIDAY

Gort v Mullagh

(Loughrea, 7:15pm)

A must win game for Gort, their major injury doubt is Sylvie Óg Linnane with a rib injury. Other than that, the management team of John Commins, Conor O’Donovan and Eoin Marren must produce a match-winning performance and hope Ardrahan do them a favour elsewhere.

As for Mullagh, out of the championship race, it has been a disappointing year for manager Kevin Coen and his charges. That said, they have had a number of players who have acquitted themselves well in 2013, including goalkeeper Eric Ward, the versatile Kevin Briscoe, captain Finian Coone and forwards Derek Hardiman, Stephen Cahalan and Cathal Kennedy. An upset is not out of the question.

Verdict: Gort.

Last meeting: 2009 (Group) Gort 1-12, Mullagh 0-13.

Match odds: Gort 1/6, draw 10/1, Mullagh 7/2.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.