Arva to take on Kildare champions

GAA preview

Arva’s odyssey will take on Milltown of Kildare in the All-Ireland Club Junior Championship semi-final at The Downs, Co Westmeath (throw-in, 1pm).

The Cavan side are rated as 1/4 favourites to advance to the All-Ireland final, with the bookmakers and pundits clearly impressed by Finbar O’Reilly’s side’s performances to date.

Kildare champions Milltown are not unfamiliar with this competition, having won the county Junior title in 2018 and 2008. This year, they saw off a strong Grangenolvin in the county semi-final before defeating Robertstown in the final by 1-17 to 1-6, with Man of the Match Kevin Byrne top-scoring with 1-2.

The other semi-final, between Lahardane MacHales from Mayo and a fancied Listowel Emmets from Kerry, takes place at O’Connor Park, Tullamore simultaneously to Arva’s match.

The village club, who are situated in mid-Kildare and share a parish with Leinster intermediate champions Allenwood, won their Leinster final on Sunday, December 3 so will have been out of action for five weeks by the time of throw-in on Saturday.