GAA
Bruff’s Roger Mulqueen joined the Treaty Talk podcast this week to preview Saturday’s All-Ireland Junior B Hurling Championship semi-final.
Bruff are just an hour away from an All-Ireland Junior B Hurling Championship final this Saturday as they take on St Martins in Killeedy. The Munster champions have had a forntight to prepare since capturing the provincial title in the same venue against Thurles Sarsfields.
The Limerick champions ended their lengthy wait for a win in Munster as they overcame Clare’s Sixmilebridge in Killeedy last month. And they followed that up with a comeback 0-10 to 1-6 win over a fancied Thurles Sarsfields side in January.
They now face Leinster runners up and Kilkenny champions St Martins this Saturday at 2pm. It will be familiar territory for the Kilkenny side who will be competing against Limerick opposition in Killeedy once more. Back in 2010, they met St Mary’s Sean Finns (Rathkeale) in the All-Ireland final in the same venue. There was nothing to separate the sides in the first game but the Kilkenny men were too strong in the return meeting to join fellow county men St Lachtans, who won the maiden title in 2008, in the roll of honour.
Bruff will be looking to join Rathkeale, Doon, Bruree, Templeglantine and Cappamore in reaching the decider with Doon in 2015 the only Treaty side to claim the title.
But Bruff won’t be getting ahead of themselves with a huge test awaiting in this Saturday’s semi-final. St Martins were bested by Sarsfields of Galway in the Leinster decider and Bruff’s Roger Mulqueen is wary of a wounded Cats outfit but is confident in his teams ability.
“There’s a great buzz around the town. We wanted to make a bit of a community spirit around between young and old. We called to the school and the elderly with the Munster cup and there was a great reception.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us, these things don’t come around too often so we are trying to make the most of it. But we are emphasizing to the lads to enjoy it, the pressure is off in a way, we’ll go all guns blazing but we want to enjoy it.”
Thurles Sarsfields take on Galway’s Sarsfields in the other semi-final this Sunday with Limerick’s Eamonn Stapleton in charge of the contest.
Watch the Treaty Talk Preview with Bruff’s Roger Mulqueen