Galway v
Donegal
As a Donegal man whose boss is also the current Galway football manager I’ll have to refrain from too many shouts of “Up Donegal” directly behind his dugout on Sunday. Going into this match, it appears Jim McGuinness is finally taking the league seriously so I’d say to all my Galway readers watch out for some fireworks in Pearse stadium. Last season was a complete write off for Donegal and whilst it would be folly to put them in the discussion of All Ireland contenders just yet, they are favourites to get promoted and have a huge chance of reclaiming Ulster. This team is still sparse on replacements but Patrick McBrearty is now back to full fitness and Donegal have a young star in Darach O'Connor as back up for the full forward line. Donegal have a great record this century against Galway beating them in the All Ireland quarter final replay back in 2003 as underdogs and beating them last time in the championship in the qualifiers back in 2009.
Both Galway and Donegal endured horrendous loses to Mayo last season but I’m expecting a big year for my own and adopted counties this season. If Galway can live with Donegal on Sunday, it could prove to be a springboard for these players to believe they are going in the right direction. I’ve made no side bet with Alan as he’ll be in foul enough mood on Monday if Galway lose but as much as I want to see Galway do well this year this is one game I’ll be cheering their defeat. Verdict Donegal by 1-3 at 5/2
Portumna v Na Piarsaigh
The Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh destroyed Sixmilebridge in 4-14 to 0-8 in the Munster final. Their fitness levels looked Intercounty standard that day and they possess a decent bench to change games but will that be enough to beat the Galway champions on Saturday? Bear in mind the All Ireland Club hurling championship has not been kind to Munster champions with Cork’s Newtownshandrum the last champions ten years ago. In that time only two more Munster sides made the final which is unbelievable for the province with the greatest bulk of quality hurling teams. One explanation maybe that Munster club sides need to peak for Munster finals and find it hard to find that level again come February. No Limerick side has ever won the title and they have a habit of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. Value hunter may look to back back them but Mulholland’s make Portumna marginal favourites at 8/13 to win in normal time and 6/4 to win their 4th All Ireland title.
The Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh destroyed Sixmilebridge in 4-14 to 0-8 in the Munster final. Their fitness levels looked Intercounty standard that day and they possess a decent bench to change games but will that be enough to beat the Galway champions on Saturday? Bear in mind the All Ireland Club hurling championship has not been kind to Munster champions with Cork’s Newtownshandrum the last champions ten years ago. In that time only two more Munster sides made the final which is unbelievable for the province with the greatest bulk of quality hurling teams. One explanation maybe that Munster club sides need to peak for Munster finals and find it hard to find that level again come February. No Limerick side has ever won the title and they have a habit of clutching defeat from the jaws of victory. Value hunter may look to back back them but Mulholland’s make Portumna marginal favourites at 8/13 to win in normal time and 6/4 to win their 4th All Ireland title.
Kilnadeema/Leitrim and the Gamble
Good luck to
Kilnadeema/Leitrim this weekend in the Intermediate All Ireland final. This
team is etched in this bookmakers consciousness every time John Mulholland’s
price up local GAA. Back in 2003, manager Kevin Boyle knew his team were flying
in training and Mulholland’s odds of 33/1 just to make the quarter finals of
the Galway Senior Hurling Championship were an insult. He rounded up his
players who each threw between €50 and €100 into the betting kitty. Current
Galway manager Alan Mulholland was the head GAA odds compiler at the time and
accepted that faithful bet that won €42,000 for the players and management. A
hefty reward for all those hard training sessions was achieved and Alan was
forced to pay out with a smile. The topic was covered by the American
sportswriter Andy Mendlowitz in his book on GAA: Ireland's
Professional Amateurs: A Sports Season at Its Purest.
This weekend Kilnadeema/Leitrim take on Rower Inistoge on Saturday night at 5:30 and once again, John Mulholland is making them big underdogs in this clash at 7/2. The firm is unlikely to lose anything compared to the 2003 levels but it could be another costly weekend for Mulholland
This weekend Kilnadeema/Leitrim take on Rower Inistoge on Saturday night at 5:30 and once again, John Mulholland is making them big underdogs in this clash at 7/2. The firm is unlikely to lose anything compared to the 2003 levels but it could be another costly weekend for Mulholland
A link to Andy Mendlowitz’s book and the chapter The Gamble can be found here on page 129: http://books.google.ie/books?id=knXXeYS0aIwC&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=kilnadeema+leitrim+2003+mulhollands&source=bl&ots=KxvNaffFr9&sig=Nipl-L0qB5YhAOIpy5_YO6lTUvw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8A7yUouZMeWQ7AaZ14CgDQ&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=kilnadeema%20leitrim%202003%20mulhollands&f=false
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