Close contest expected as Gort take on Coolderry

WHILE there is disappointment among Clare hurling followers that county senior hurling champions Crusheen are no longer in the race for this year’s All-Ireland club title, there is still a lot of Clare interest in the semi-finals.
A big Clare following is expected to make the short journey to Limerick for the clash of Gort with Offaly and Leinster champions, Coolderry.
Many of the Gort players have strong connections with Clare, where some of them work. Coolderry also have Clare ties with  Doora-Barefield parish priest Fr Jerry Carey a native of the Offaly parish, while Kildysart parish priest, Fr Colm Hogan is the brother of Coolderry manager, the former Tipperary All-Ireland winning goalkeeper, Ken Hogan.
It is a game that has captured the imagination of the hurling public, not least because of the great hurling rivalry that exists between Galway and Offaly.
Few, if any, would have predicted that Gort and Coolderry would still be in contention at this stage of the championship. Gort weren’t among the favourites for the Galway title and while Coolderry were favoured in Offaly, most followers predicted the Leinster title would go to either the Leinster champions or Oulart the Ballagh from Wexford.
When Oulart, managed by Liam Dunne, qualified for the provincial final, they were installed as favourites but the Ken Hogan-managed Coolderry deservedly came out on top. They are now installed as favourites to win the championship.
Cathal Parlon, Joe Bergin and Brian Carroll are some of the players that the Offaly champions will be looking to as they chase their first All-Ireland appearance.
Mattie Murphy is one of the most experienced hurling managers of modern times and he is sure to have his homework done for Gort ahead of this semi-final. Victory in this championship would see Murphy add to an already very impressive CV, which has seen him lead Galway to a number of All-Ireland minor successes, while he has also managed Gort at U-21 and senior levels.
Peter and Ritchie Cummins, Gerry O’Donoghue, the Linnane brothers, Gerry Quinn, Michael McMahon and Ollie Fahy will fill vital positions in the Gort line-up.
It has all the ingredients for a tremendous contest and opinions seem to be divided as to who will come out on top.
There appears to be a slight majority that believe Coolderry will progress but, no doubt, Mattie Murphy will have other ideas as he chases another All-Ireland final appearance as a team manager.