Sligo sides poised for good start to 2012
January 3rd, 2012 by Kevin EganFinally, we’re back. After what seemed like an interminable few weeks with nothing only closed door challenge games to entertain us, the result of most of which you had to be careful to even talk about, official GAA action is back and ready to go once again, starting tomorrow night in the new GAA centre of excellence in Ballyhaunis with a very attractive FBD league double header.
The main college and county teams of Galway are both in action, and in both instances the bookmakers expect the Galway sides to prevail – though all involved, punters and bookies alike, are well aware that it won’t take much money one way or another to move markets in games like this. Galway are between 4/6 (Hills) and 1/2 (Ladbrokes) to beat Sligo IT in the first game, while there is little disparity in the second match with Hills, Ladbrokes and Powers all going either 11/8 or 6/4 about a win for Sligo over NUIG.
Galway have named a very fresh team for their battle with Sligo IT and while they have deployed some experienced players in the diamond section with Gareth Bradshaw, Paul Conroy and Cormac Bane playing at 6, 9 and 11 respectively, Alan Mulholland is clearly looking to give some of his younger players every opportunity to prove themselves in this competition. They’ll certainly get the chance to do just that against Sligo IT, who were very impressive in the higher education league earlier this year. Last year’s preseason competitions featured plenty of college teams getting off to a very strong start and Sligo IT will feel that they are in with every chance against a Galway side with more than a few raw players. The IT face a huge battle to reach the finals weekend of the Sigerson with UCC standing in their way, but at this level they should be capable of going well.
As outsiders, Sligo the county are given even less of a chance against NUIG, and after losing to the Galway university in this competition last year, it’s understandable that the Yeats county are considered underdogs here. However while NUIG will be fancied to go well in the Sigerson Cup this year, particularly as they will have home advantage for the finals, they often keep a little in reserve for Sigerson competition, and have lost some of their older players from last year. Sligo, unlike Galway, are unlikely to dip too deeply into their panel of reserves, simply because they just don’t have that level of depth to call upon. As any supporter of a smaller county will tell you, selection in such counties is a much simpler process usually because bringing in over a dozen new footballers simply isn’t an option. Last year Sligo’s FBD league side was comprised of almost two thirds championship starters and if they employ a similar tactic here, they should be able to stay close to NUIG. The third level students probably deserve slight favouritism here, but punting them at odds on makes little or no appeal.
FBD League Recommendation:
Galway vs Sligo IT: Sligo IT to win @ 15/8 (Ladbrokes)
Seven crucial exams for college teams tomorrow
February 2nd, 2010 by Kevin EganWednesday afternoon at 2pm might not be a time of day when many people have free time on their hands, but if you do happen to be at a loose end tomorrow, there are seven games taking place in the Sigerson Cup all around the country with some top quality games on offer. The Sigerson competition has traditionally been very good to this column and in the spirit of trying to continue that good run, here’s a quick rundown on the full card of action, with a view towards isolating the value.