Football dominates weekend

With the playoff places in the hurling championship decided, focus this weekend switches to the Bon Secours Football Championship with a lot to play for in all four grades.

Premier Senior
St Finbarr's vs Clonakilty
Carrigaline vs Ballincollig

Ian Maguire, Stephen Sherlock, Sam Ryan and Cillian Myers Murray are in top form right now and will be key players for them.

Clonakility looked good in their win over Carrigaline with the Whites, Dara O’Se and Tom Clancy, but failed to show against Ballincollig. They cannot afford another lapse but the odds favour a win for the ‘Barrs.

Carrigaline have struggled in their games to date, and with Ballincollig showing improved form with Paddy Kelly, Cian Kiely and Liam Jennings key to their charge, they look better equipped to win.

Verdict: St Finbarr's and Ballincollig to advance

Castlehaven vs Ilen Rovers
Newcestown vs Carbery Rangers

Castlehaven are assured of top spot and will be favoured to make it three from three against an Ilen side that have yet to win a game. That run looks set to continue as Damien Cahalane, Michael Hurley, Brian Hurley and Mark Collins are leading the way with top class displays.

The Newcestown vs Carbery Rangers tie is essentially a knockout game, but a draw will be good enough for Newcestown to progress. They will be boosted by the performance of their hurlers, with 13 dual players, who won in style last week.

Tadgh Twomey, Luke Meade and the Keanes, Fionn and Cathrach, will as ever lead form the front.

‘Ross have been badly hit by injuries, especially to John O’Rourke who may be fit and John Hayes who looks set to lose out, and that will not help their cause.

The exertions of recent weeks might catch up with Newcestown but they have coped admirably and might just shade this one.

Verdict: Castlehaven and Newcestown to progress

Nemo Rangers vs Douglas
Bishopstown vs Valley Rovers

The champions are safely into the knockout phase but will be chasing the semi-final spot which, as it stands, rests between themselves and the ‘Barrs.

Douglas will be boosted by the excellent win of their hurlers last week but their record against Nemo in the championship is not great, to be fair they are not alone there.

There were disappointed with their performance against Valley Rovers, and despite a late rally, came up just short. Brian Hartnett, Kevn Flahive and Sean Powter will lead their challenge and it will need to be a consistent 60 minutes if they are to upset their neighbours.

Nemo, despite being qualified, will not want to lose this one and with Luke Connolly, Paul Kerrigan, and Stephen and Mark Cronin playing well, they look set to prevail.

Bishopstown, to all intents and purposes, are out of the running but a win might just keep them out of the relegation battle. If Valleys win and Nemo win, then the Innishannon side will go through to the next round.

A couple of intriguing encounters here and it could go to the wire.

Verdict: Nemo Rangers and Valley Rovers

Senior ‘A’

Kiskeam have two from two and are more or less assured of progressing while Éire Óg will need to win if they are to have any chance of making the quarter-finals. They will look to Ciarán Sheehan, Ronan O’Toole and Daniel Goulding to deliver big games to keep their season alive.

Mallow are on two points, and if they defeat a point-less Bantry Blues, they will be in the hunt for the second spot on offer.

Lots of possibilities but an Éire Ó wing would almost certainly see them through with Kiskeam.

All four teams are in with a chance here, with Bandon slightly better off with three points but they face a tough test against Fermoy who are just one point behind and will be annoyed at being caught late by Clyda in the last round.

Clyda will take confidence into their game with Dohenys, who of the four, need a lot to go their way if they are to advance.

So much to play for here with the odds favouring Bandon and Clyda making it through.

Premier Intermediate

Nemo Rangers have won both their games and will be expected to account for Macroom, while if, as expected, Kanturk account for Gabriel Rangers, they will progress with Nemo.

Newmarket are safely through and will be joined by Aghada if they overcome Na Piarsaigh, while Castletownbere could also qualify if they can surprise Newmarket.

Intermediate

Mitchelstown will be expected to make it three from three against Mayfield and they will be joined by the winners of the Adrigole vs Glanworth clash, with the latter favoured.

Likewise, Millstreet are unbeaten and should remain so against point-less Glenville, while St Finbarrs should account for Ballinora.

It’s a very tight in the group with three Duhallow teams and only one can progree. Ballydesmond cannot qualify but they will want to end the campaign on a positive note against Rockchapel, leaving the clash between Dromtarrife and Kinsale with a lot at stake, but I fancy Rock and Dromtarrife to come out of the group.

Kilshannig are almost assured of advancing, and if they beat Kildorrery, they will top the group. Glanmire are out of the running but could make it tough for Aghabullogue who need a win to extend their interest in the championship.

Camogie

Courcey Rovers and St Catherines get proceedings underway on Saturday at 2pm, with the latter favoured to win.

At 5pm it’s Killeagh vs St Finbarr's with the East Cork side many people’s fancy to go the distance, led by a trio of Cork stars in Chloe Sigerson, Hannah Looney and Laura Treacy. As ever, Gemma O’Connor is key to the ‘Barrs challenge.

Sunday at 1pm it’s Glen Rovers vs Inniscarra, a repeat of the final of a couple of years ago which Inniscarra won, and they are favourites for this clash. Rena Buckley and Joanne Casey, as ever, are vital players for them but they are without the injured Niamh McCarthy.

Glen have had two good wins over Sarsfields and Seandun after extra-time and will enter this game in a confident mood with Leanne O’Sullivan, Lisa O’Riordan, Emma Muphy, Katie Walsh and Denise Luby in good form. A tall order but it is one they are capable of winning.

The final game of a hectic period is the meeting of Douglas and Éire Óg at 5pm. Douglas ended Sars’ reign as champions and with the Mackey sisters, Catriona and Pamela, Julia White and Jess Kavanagh in good form, they should win.