Our Senior hurlers lock horns with Beagh this Saturday in Athenry (6pm), in Group D, Round 2 of the Senior Championship. Pearses seen off the challenge of Kiltormer in Round 1, while Beagh defeated Tommie Larkins. A win for either side would all but guarantee a Quarter-Final place before the Summer Break, with one Group game still to play.
Including the Tommie Larkins game, Beagh now have 4 games under their belt, having lost out to Clarinbridge in Knockout Round 1 and going to a replay with Liam Mellows in Round 2. The South Galway team will be looking to the Gantleys, Kevin Keehan and Pandamp;aacute;draic Landers to continue the good form they have been showing to date.
Pearses will be without key men Kerrill Hardiman and Emmett Ward, who both picked up hand injuries against Kiltormer. Cyril Donnellan also picked up an ankle injury in Galway’s defeat of Laois last Sunday, so John Raftery and Co will hope he will be fully recovered for this game.
Tommy McDonagh will most likely replace Hardiman in defence while Ward’s position may be taken by either Colm Raftery or Ronan Bellew, who both had good showings the last day when introduced. Others who may see some game time are Robbie Donnellan, Enda Cunniffe, Niall Skehill and Aidan Kilkenny.
The side’s last meeting was in the Group stages of the 2008 Senior Championship, Beagh emerging 5-point winners that day. Pearses were new to the Senior scene at that point, so hopefully the additional Senior experience as well as the infusion of new blood in recent years will level the playing field this weekend. Do not rule out a draw, which some bookmakers have priced at 8/1. Come along and support the team! Best of luck to all!