Clough-Ballacolla will make their first appearance in the Leinster Club SHC semi finals this evening in O’Moore Park.
Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes are their opponents in a game that promises to be a cracker.
Here we look ahead to the game and what we can expect:
When, where, what time?
The game is in O’Moore Park evening at 6.15pm.
Any team news from Clough-Ballacolla?
With successive Laois titles in the bag, Clough-Ballacolla will looking to add a Leinster title to their cabinet.
Two weeks on from their big win over Wexford champions Rapparees, Clough-Ballacolla should be at full strength.
Willie Dunphy has gotten married in between but is now available for this big game.
What’s Clough-Ballacolla’s track record like in Leinster?
Clough-Ballacolla won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup in 2009, 2011 and 2015 but fell at the first hurdle in Leinster each time.
They didn’t get to compete in Leinster in 2020 as there was no provincial competition due to Covid-19.
What are Kilmacud Crokes like?
Kilmacud Crokes have won the Dublin championship six times and their 2021 success was their first since 2014.
They have never won a Leinster club hurling championship and reached this stage in 2014 only to be beaten by eventual champions Ballyhale Shamrocks.
They actually defeated Rathdowney-Errill 0-23 to 0-22 after extra time in the quarter final that year.
They have a joint management in place as Aodán De Paor and Kieran Dowling have been in charge for the last few years.
Their star man is Ronan Hayes and he fired 2-6 in the quarter final win over Raharney of Westmeath two weeks ago.
Oisin O’Rorke and Fergal Whiteley would also be well known to Laois fans for their exploits at county level.
Portarlington face Kilmacud Crokes in the football semi final next week and interestingly, Brian Sheehy is the only dual player who could feature in both games.
How was their Dublin campaign?
The Dublin championship comprised of 16 teams, split into four groups of four with the top two going through to the quarter-finals.
Kilmacud were in Group 3 where they defeated Cuala, St Brigid’s and Thomas Davis to top it.
They defeated St Jude’s by 0-26 to 0-23 in the quarter final and once again renewed acquaintances with Cuala in the semi finals.
A 1-18 to 1-13 win followed before they got the better of Na Fianna in an extra time thriller in the final – 4-26 to 4-25.
What are the odds?
Kilmacud Crokes are favourites at a price of 2/7 with Clough-Ballacolla at 3/1 and the draw at 10/1.
For the Leinster club, Ballyhale Shamrocks are outright favourites at 1/3 followed by Kilmacud Crokes at 5/2.
St Rynagh’s are next at 11/1 while Clough-Ballacolla are 20/1.
If you’re feeling very ambitious, Clough-Ballacolla are 66/1 to win the All Ireland.
Who’s reffing it?
David Hughes from Carlow is the man in charge. He refereed the Laois U-21s against Dublin in a Leinster quarter final in 2012.
Our records don’t show any other occasions where he officiated a Laois team.
What’s the story with tickets – and is it on TV?
Match tickets must be purchased in advance online and will not be on sale at the venue. Tickets are €10 and there are no concessions for OAPs or students. U-14s are free.
The game is being shown live on RTE 2 with coverage beginning at 6pm. We will also bring you all the action as it happens on our Live Blog.
SEE ALSO – Walk-in Covid-19 vaccination booster centre for those aged 50 and over to open in Laois this weekend
