DESPITE the drama around some of their squad, Craobh Rua will line out against Middletown in Sunday’s Armagh hurling semi-final at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds (3.30pm).
Four of the south Armagh-based club’s squad are due to play in football championship matches on Saturday, including All-Ireland winner Jarly Óg Burns, who will play against Crossmaglen for Silverbridge in the SFC play-off round.
It emerged that the Armagh County Board postponed dual-club Middletown’s JFC quarter-final against Ballyhegan from this weekend to the following weekend to allow their dual players to concentrate on the hurling semi-final this Sunday.
Under current rules, it is understood that the county board are not obliged to change fixtures for non-dual clubs, which Craobh Rua are not, they are solely a hurling club.
A spokesperson for Craobh Rua confirmed that the club will be fielding on Sunday and they anticipate the game to go ahead.
The other players involved in football championship fixtures on Saturday are Fionnan Burns (Silverbridge) and Sean and Paddy McVerry (St Michael’s, Newtownhamilton).
Middletown are looking to secure their sixth Armagh SHC crown in a row in an unprecedented period of success for the border town.
The first game in Sunday’s semi-final double-header sees Keady Lámh Dhearg play Derrynoose at 1.30pm.
The two sides finished second and third respectively in the group phase of the championship on six points each, with Keady finishing higher on score difference.
Keady are the most successful team in the history of Armagh hurling, winning 25 SHC titles. Their last triumph came in 2018 when they beat Middletown by three points to stop a four-peat by Na Fianna of Middletown.
