Our Senior hurlers have been drawn against one of the remaining big guns, Loughrea, in one of this year’s Senior Championship Quarter-Finals. Loughrea have been at the business end of the Championship for the past decade, contesting 6 of the last 10 finals, including last year’s against St Thomas’. Both Pearses and Loughrea have been unbeaten so far in this year’s Championship. John Raftery’s men have been installed as underdogs, but will no doubt relish the chance to take down a team of Loughrea’s calibre.
This of course will be Pearses’ second successive Quarter-Final. Last year they took on Gort, when they also had the underdog tag. Gort were lucky to come through, when a late Fearghal Flannery penalty could well have earned a draw. Pearses will be keen to go at least one better this year.
The other Quarter-Finals are as follows: Turloughmore v Beagh; Portumna v Ardrahan; St Thomas’ v Castlegar. Portumna and St Thomas’ have been installed as joint favourites for the County Cup, with Loughrea as second favourites. Then Turloughmore, Ardrahan are next in line, with Pearses priced at 16/1 (Paddy Power) to go all the way, but I’m sure none of these odds will not bother any of the teams when taking the field for the Quarter-Finals.