No shortage of fixtures

Date Published: 10-Jan-2008

THE sporting year may only be a pup but there is an extensive list of inter-county fixtures to whet the appetites of GAA enthusiasts this coming weekend.

After a more than satisfactory opening FBD League victory over Sligo last Sunday, Liam Sammon’s Galway will be hoping to continue their winning ways when they face Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday.

Elsewhere, GMIT travel to Sligo for a ‘must win’ clash — following their defeat to Leitrim — while NUI Galway, after an excellent win over Mayo, will be seeking to account for a second inter-county side in the competition when they host Roscommon in Dangan.

There is also plenty of hurling action this weekend as the Connacht League gets underway on Saturday. GMIT and NUI Galway face Sligo IT and Mayo respectively, while Galway Development begin their campaign with an away fixture against 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup holders Roscommon.

This should be a useful workout for both sides. For their part, Galway Development — under the stewardship of U-21 boss Vincent Mullins and his management team — include several of the 2007 All-Ireland winning panel, including goalkeeper James Skehill, Alan Leech, Keith Kilkenny, Kevin Hynes, Noel Kelly and Barry Hanley.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cups will commence in the coming weeks. In the restructured Fitzgibbon Cup — which has gone from a knock-out basis to groups — NUI Galway has been drawn with Cork IT (in Cork, January 30) and DIT (in Galway, February 6). Galway’s other representatives, GMIT has been grouped with Garda College (Templemore, February 6) and UCC (in Galway, February 14).

In the Sigerson Cup, NUI Galway will host Athlone IT on February 7, with the winner to play Queens University, Belfast on February 13 in the second round. GMIT also have home advantage for their opening clash against WIT, with the victors set to play either St. Mary’s, Belfast or UL in the quarter-finals on February 27.

Other fixtures to watch out for in the coming weeks are Tommie Larkins’ clash with Robert Emmetts (London) at Ruislip on January 19 in the All-Ireland intermediate club hurling championship and Moycullen’s All-Ireland intermediate football semi-final joust with Annascaul of Kerry in Limerick on January 27 (2 p.m.).

St. Colman’s face Canovee or John Mitchells in the All-Ireland junior club football semi-final in Askeaton on January 27, while Sylane take on Moyle Rovers of Tipperary in their All-Ireland junior club hurling semi-final clash at Tullamore the same day.

All eyes though…..