In this weekend’s accumulator we’re looking at the FA Cup, the RaboDirect PRO12 and the All-Ireland club semi-final between local rivals St. Brigid’s and Garrycastle. A tenner on this four-timer could get you within a few quid of €300. We say could.
By Shane Breslin & Conor Heneghan
Blackpool +1 v Everton (@ 13/8)
Okay, so it may not be the wisest thing in the world to back a Championship team away to a Premier League team, and not just any Premier League but one coming into the game on the back of its best result of the season.
But wise is an accusation that has yet to be levelled at us, so we’ll carry on regardless. Here’s the rationale. Blackpool have been in exceptional form, especially away from home, with their last three games on their travels ending in 3-1, 3-0 and 3-1 wins over Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City. Okay, this is a step up, and yes, a win at Goodison Park would be a surprise, but they look tempting enough on the handicap.
Sunderland to beat Arsenal (@ 15/8)
You have to wonder about the Gunners. It’s stretching things to say they’re at an all-time low after that 4-0 defeat to Milan the other night – the nadir came their way in the 8-2 at Old Trafford a few months ago. It’s difficult enough to go to Sunderland and win, especially the way the Wearsiders are performing under Martin O’Neill. But it’s very difficult to go there and win two weeks running, especially when the games come either side of a morale-sapping humiliation in Europe.
The live TV cameras will be rolling and the Stadium of Light will be rocking, with older fans fondly recalling the semi-final win over the Gunners in Sunderland’s FA Cup-winning year of 1973. The club has endured some embarrassing moments themselves in this competition over the past few years, but underdogs, at home, against a teetering giant. It’s all set up for them.
Munster to beat Benetton Treviso by 1-12 points (@ 7/5)
Compared to this time last season, there’s plenty of good vibes coming out of Munster at the moment. Top seeds in the Heineken Cup, well in the mix in the Rabo12 and a host of young players proving their worth; times are good in Thomond Park at the moment.
We expect them to carry that good feeling into the meeting with Treviso on Saturday afternoon. Trips to the north of Italy are never to be taken for granted – especially with the weather being experienced in that part of the world at the moment – but with ROG, Peter O’Mahony and Donnacha Ryan on board, we expect Tony McGahan’s men to prevail comfortably, if not by more than 12 points.
St. Brigid’s to beat Garrycastle (@ 8/13)
All-Ireland semi-finals are a special occasion for any club, but Sunday’s meeting of St. Brigid’s and Garrycastle is that little bit more significant. The clubs involved might be from two different counties and provinces, but Kiltoom is only a stone’s throw away from Athlone and when the whistle goes on Sunday, it’s not just a place in Croke Park on Paddy’s Day that is up for grabs, local bragging rights are at stake as well. If the provincial boundaries weren’t complicated enough as it is, Garrycastle, from Westmeath, are managed by the manager of the Galway senior team, Anthony Cunningham. The Galway senior hurling team, that is.
Brigid’s are veterans at this stage of the club competition and will be keen to right the wrongs of last year when they were beaten by Crossmaglen in the final. Having beaten another St. Brigid’s (of Dublin) already in the competition, Garrycastle won’t go down easily, but the experience of the Roscommon side will probably tell in the end.
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