Shane Stapleton and Michael Verney go through the big stories and clashes this weekend in Club Talk: Hurling, from Castletown-Geoghegan v Clonkill to Glen Rovers v Blackrock, and St Thomas’ v Turloughmore, not to mention other finals in less-heralded counties.
Glen Rovers manager Richie Kelleher made a big point about “bitching” this weekend ahead of their Cork SHC final against Blackrock.
Having been involved as a selector a decade ago, and seeing them come up short for a number of years, talk was something he was keen to cut down on.
“I have this big thing about bitching, we have stopped it for years and it has turned the whole thing around,” Kelleher said in the Irish Examiner.
“Why would you bitch to your own teammate? If he is doing something wrong, support him, get behind him, and that is what we have tried to do.
“And it is working for us. The players have worked so hard.”
The Glen are hoping to regain a title they last held in 2015 and 2016, having seen divisional side Imokilly run the show for the past three seasons.
Standing in their way is Blackrock, the most successful team in the county’s history with 32 victories.
Turloughmore are fourth in the Galway roll of honour but are in their first final for 30 years against three-in-a-row chasing St Thomas’.
Castletown-Geoghegan v Clonkill promises to be a huge game in Westmeath, while there are also deciders in the Kilkenny JHC championship, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth and Longford.
Click play on the video at the top of the page to watch the show.
FIXTURES
SATURDAY
Donegal SHC final – O’Donnell Pk: Setanta v St Eunan’s, 4.0
Leitrim SHC final – Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada: Carrick Hurling v Cluainín, 3.30
Louth SHC final – Darver: Knockbridge v St Fechin’s GAA, 3.0
SUNDAY
Cork SHC final – Páirc Uí Chaoimh: Glen Rovers v Blackrock, 4.0.
Galway SHC final – Kenny Pk: Turloughmore v St Thomas, 2.0
Westmeath SHC final – Cusack Pk: Castletown Geoghegan v Clonkill, 4.0
Longford SHC final – Pearse Park: Wolfe Tones v Longford Slashers, 4.0
Video time stamps (approx)
00:00 Intro and Galway SHC final
09:30 Galway Covid issue
11:30 Donegal SHC final
20:00 Cork SHC final
26:00 “Bitching” in the Glen camp
35:00 Westmeath SHC final
41:00 Kilkenny JHC final
45:00 Longford SHC final
48:00 Lock of the Week
