Kilmacud Crokes vs Glen Preview
The 2023 AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final looks like a doozy. A much-anticipated repeat of the controversial 2023 final between Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) and Watty Graham’s Glen (Derry). The match will take place in Newry’s Páirc Esler this coming January 7th, with a throw-in time of 3.45 PM.
The renewal of acquaintances between the Dublin and Leinster Champions, vis-à-vis the Derry and Ulster Champions, will be among the highest-profile semi-final matches in the history of the competition.
Kilmacud won the 2023 final, which was unfortunately drenched in controversy. They confirmed the Dublin side had an extra player on the field while defending a crunch, Glen “45” at a critical juncture of the game. Speculation abounded that they might replay the final, but ultimately, the decision was final, and Crokes retained the Andy Merrigan Cup of 2023.
Kilmacud Crokes v Glen Head-To-Head and Key Stats
Glen enters the semi-final after snagging another Ulster championship. In a tightly contested match against Scotstown, star keeper Connlan Bradley performed a clutch save. The veteran shot-stopper came through with a crucial reflex save from a Kieran Hughes attempt. Without this sensational save, Scotstown would have forced extra time in front of a 6,000-strong crowd at the Athletic Grounds. The save booked Glen’s spot in the semi-finals while delivering more heartbreak for a valiant Scotstown side that has lost 3 Ulster finals since 2015.
The newly minted champions of Ulster will have little time to savour the thrill of success of defending their title. The blistering form of reigning All-Ireland champions Kilmacud Crokes will be their sole focus in the massive semi-final.
The Dublin and Leinster champions completed a historic provincial treble at Croke Park. Securing their third straight championship by seeing off a robust challenge from a spirited Naas side that ultimately fell short after having dominated much of the second half. Kilmacud Crokes demonstrated class and poise befitting of champions by navigating the tricky game. They were clinical with their chances and ultimately sent the Kildare side home. The win marked a milestone for Kilmacud Crokes. It became the first Leinster club to win three straight championships on the spin.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Glen Predictions
Call it a grudge match, a return bout, or anything you like. One thing’s for sure: the rematch is on between the Dublin and Derry champions. Kilmacud notably won the 2023 final, beating Glen 1-11 to 1-19. However, the result was rough justice for the Derry side. Video footage confirmed that Kilmacud had 16 men on the pitch in the dying moments of the game. Glen was frantically trying to steal the match right at the end, but could not find a way through the eventual title-winning side.
Malachy O’Rourke’s Glen side has since completed back-to-back Ulster titles. They have certainly staked out their claim as legitimate contenders for the All-Ireland championship. Returning Derry talisman and captain Conor Glass helped the side win the Derry championship four times in recent years. O’Rourke demonstrated his investment in Watty Graham’s after snubbing the overtures of taking over the reins of cross-county rival Derry.
Glen will be raring to go as soon as the throw-in is launched after feeling hard done by the circumstances of their 2023 All-Ireland final defeat. Any injustice usually guarantees fireworks in the semis, but you can’t help but feel for the Watty Grahams. The Derry champs will need to get over any residual sense of a revenge mission and keep their cool if they are to get a result against Kilmacud. The Dublin side is the odds-on favourites to win it all in 2024.
Kilmacud Crokes have steamrollered their way into the final four with a middle-third press that’s near impossible to break down. The Dublin side has finessed their way to the semi-final with a combination of hard-nosed defensive play and a perfect balance of cynical gamesmanship and finishing class. Crokes will need to break down any attacking momentum posed by Glen and break down any attacking chances. Glen has to be clinical with the counterattacking chances in this game.
All eyes will be on both teams as the juicy narrative behind the match is too good to miss. Will the men of Ulster right what their supporters feel was a massive wrong? Or will it be the same old story with the men of Leinster ultimately giving Glen a good seeing-off? Only time will tell in this anticipated, tense matchup full of drama.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Glen Betting Tips
According to the live futures odds, Kilmacud Crokes are 11/10 favourites to win the 2024 edition of the Andy Merrigan Cup. Watty Graham’s Glen is in second place, with 9/4 odds of winning the All-Ireland title. As far as the match odds are concerned, Crokes is the 4/6 favourite to win the match straight up. Glen is the 13/8 underdog to rip up the script and beat the defending champions at Newry. The odds of the match ending in a draw are at 13/2. The bookmakers believe that a stalemate at the end of regulation is unlikely.
Football at this height of the season tends to be a closely fought and low-scoring affair, with pitch conditions and inclement weather often being a wild card. The frosty January weather, for one, could play into the All-Irish champions’ defensive strengths and make it difficult for Glen to hit them on the counter.
🎄 12 Days of Christmas 🎄
Kilmacud Crokes beat Glen in the All-Ireland Club Football Final but controversy arose when the Dublin club were found to have had 16 players in their defence during the last play 👀#BBCGAA pic.twitter.com/kqNsTARNMw
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) December 15, 2023
Nevertheless, Kilmacud Crokes are the banker on the semi-final coupon for most chances for a good reason. They are skinny favourites in this semi-final matchup at 4/6. Watty Graham will put up a good fight, but it’s hard to see them eking out a victory in a match that will probably crown the next All-Ireland champion.
AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final Prediction: Kilmacud Crokes ML (4/6). Take advantage of this line with Novibet’s welcome offer.
Kilmacud Crokes Team News & Lineups
Kilmacud Crokes’ billing as a firm favourite to becoming the All-Ireland football champions of 2024 is fair. The Dublin side is playing with the composure and control befitting of their status as champions. Their hot performances have been buoyed by the scoring prowess of accomplished corner forward and captain Shane Walsh.
Meanwhile, their defence has been airtight, with corner-backs James Murphy and Dan O’Brien expected to rack up the interceptions. Full-back Theo Clancy, the son of club legend and 1995 Niall, is expected to marshall the back line. Clancy will also play a key role in helping the team build patiently from the back and set the pace along with Rory O’Carroll and Andrew McGowan.
Kilmacud Crokes Expected Lineup: D Higgins, C Dias, T Clancy, D O’Brien, S Horan, A McGowan, M O’Leary, B Sheehy, R O’Carroll, C O’Connor, S Cunningham, H Kenny, P Mannion, D Mullin, and S Walsh.
Glen Team News & Lineups
Ulster danger man Conor Glass will lead the line for the Glen. Glass had been one of the bright lights for Mickey Harte’s Derry side. He has demonstrated his class as the club from Derry retained the Seamus McFerran Cup with a close two-point margin against Scotstown.
Kilmacud Crokes will need to focus on Glen’s attacking quality and pace. Players like Conor Glass, Young Footballer of the Year Ethan Doherty, Ciaran McFaul, and Eunan Mulholland are the dangermen. Danny Tallon and Tiernan Flanagan round up a robust Glen side that will be chomping at the bit to give the defending champions all they can handle as they attempt to right a wrong. Goalkeeper Connlan Bradley will have his work cut out for him trying to keep a rampant Crokes side out of the goal.
Glen Expected Lineup: C Bradley, M Warnock, R Dougan, C Carville, E Mulholland, C McFaul, C Mulholland, C Glass, E Bradley, E Doherty, J Doherty, J McDermott, T Flanagan, D Tallon, and C McGuckian.
