Must-win games in football championships
After the drama and excitement of Croke Park it’s now back to club business as the inter-county season concluded on a highly successful note for the Cork camogie teams.
It’s big weekend in the McCarthy Insurance Group County Football Championships with games across all 5 grades and for clubs that lost their opening match, it’s very much must-win territory.
A second defeat will almost certainly mean a battle to avoid relegation, by contrast a 2nd win will guarantee progression to the knockout phase.
Premier Senior
There was no real surprise results in round 1 with the big 3, Nemo Rangers, St Finbarr’s and champions Castlehaven all winning. Newly promoted Newcestown also made a winning start while St Michael’s caused a mild surprise by getting the better of Carbery Rangers.
This time around, the ‘Barrs with the expectation that hurlers Brian Hayes and Ethan Twomey will be in from the start, will be fancied to get the better of Mallow, who staged a remarkable comeback to draw with Valley Rovers, when they meet in Grenagh on Saturday at 2pm.
Douglas who lost to the ‘Barr’s will need to win against Valley Rovers in Carrigaline tomorrow night at 7.15pm to keep their season alive. How will they react to recent defeats especially the heavy one inflicted on their hurlers in their 1st round?
Nemo Rangers were not that impressive, by their own high standards, when beating Ballincollig, but will still be expected to make it two from two when they another Muskerry side Éire Óg on Ballincollig also tomorrow night at 7.15pm.
The meeting of Newcestown and Ballincollig takes on added significance for the latter as it’s a game they cannot afford to lose when they meet in Ovens on Saturday at 5pm.
In the final group the ‘Haven will be favoured to beat St Michael’s in Clonakilty tomorrow night at 7.30pm but they would not want to underestimate a very determined Michael’s outfit.
The other game is now a huge West Cork derby between Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers. For the losers, it’s all over and that should make for a lively encounter in Dunmanway at 4pm on Sunday, slight fancy for Clon to edge this one.
Senior A
This has proven over the last few years to be a very competitive championship and based on the 1st round results a similar scenario is developing this season.
Group A
In Group A, Division 1 league winners Carrigaline set down an early marker with a big win first time out and the addition of Brian O’Driscoll has given them a huge boost and they will be expected to account for Kiskeam when they meet in Mallow on Sunday at 4pm, while there should be a huge crowd in Baile Mhuirne at the same time for the all Gaelthacht clash of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaid and Cill Na Martra, as with all local derbies, hard to call this one - a draw maybe.
Group B
The meeting of the two sides that won their opening games O’Donovan Rossa and Kanturk is on Sunday at 4pm in Kilmichael and should be a lively affair between two very good teams and maybe that added bit of experience that Kanturk have might get them over the line.
Fermoy and Doheny’s collide in Ballygarvan on Saturday at 7pm - a must win game for both. Fermoy only narrowly lost last time out and they will be buoyed that display a repeat and they should prevail.
Group C
Clyda Rovers apart from losing to Bishopstown last time out, were dealt a further blow when news filtered through from the US that ace forward Conor Corbett had done his ACL for the 2nd time. He’s a huge loss and a blow to John Cleary’s Cork side as well, they will find it hard to get the better of a high flying Knocknagree side in Ballyclough on Sunday at 4pm.
Bishopstown boosted by their 1st round win will be confident of making it two from two when they meet Newmarket in Mourneabbey on Saturday at 5pm.
Premier Intermediate
Some interesting results in the 1st round notably Bantry Blues, runners-up last year, comfortably beat Nemo Rangers and their joust with West Cork rivals Bandon who need the win, in Dunmaway on Sunday at 2pm should be lively.
Nemo Rangers will look to bounce back when the play Naomh Abán in Kilmurry on Saturday at 5pm but might not find it that easy.
Ilen Rovers suffered a heavy defeat to Iveleary in round 1 and will not have anything easy against another Mid-Cork side Aghabullogue who had a good win over Aghada in their first game up on back of winning the Intermediate title last year - 5pm start in Ballinacarriga on Saturday.
Aghada - now managed by Larry Tompkins - face a buoyant Iveleary for whom Chris Óg Jones is in good form. It’s at 3pm on Saturday in Ballyanly and they badly need a win, but might not get it.
In the final group, Macroom who were on the wrong end of a 5 point loss to Rockchapel, head to Aughaville for a crucial clash with Castletownbere, while the ‘Rock play Kilshannig in Kanturk both on Saturday at 7pm.
Intermediate and Premier Junior
Plenty of action in both grades and a number of clubs have already laid down a marker with impressive 1st round wins among them, Boherbue, Mitchelstown, Cullen, Buttevant, and Gabriel Rangers while St Finbarr’s and Glanmire played out an exciting draw, the picture as with all groups will become a little bit clearer after round 2 this weekend.
Camogie
What a wonderful afternoon in HQ on Sunday as Cork with wins over Kilkenny and Galway completed a fabulous double in dramatic fashion.
A late Finola Nelligan point got the Intermediate side over the line in what would appear to be the last championship in its current format at this level for 2nd teams of counties - a retrograde step by the powers that be in my opinion which will do little to promote the game.
It is a decision that needs to be looked and reversed.
Why should players from counties like Cork, Kilkenny and Galway to mention just 3 be denied the opportunity to play that level and in the process not get the chance to play in Croke Park on All-Ireland day?
Another question: Tipperary won the Premier Junior decider now where do they go for the coming season, a more detailed discussion required?
Back to the game itself the Cork defence not for the first time this season were outstanding, with Emma Flanagan named POTM she had a few other contenders notably Aoife Barrett and Niamh O’Leary.
The senior final was one of, if not the best in recent times. Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance and equally scoreless ones, but once again the impact off the bench swung the game Cork’s way, a point Ger Manley was making all year regarding the depth of the squad.
It had many talking points among them Liz Dempsey’s performance as referee. In general it was good and while at times Cork may have got ‘the rub of the green’ with one or two calls, that’s sport and in the past, like the recent hurling final, they have gone against teams from the Rebel County.
Ashling Thompson was named POTM and there were a few other contenders, including Laura Treacy who was imperious at centre-back, especially in the last quarter.
This Cork side has the potential to win a few more and when you consider the win was achieved without Libby Coppinger and a limited input, but what an input from Meabh Cahalane.
The welcome the teams received in Castle Road on Monday night was very special and along with my colleagues in 96FM/C013, I was delighted to have played a part in honouring two outstanding groups of players and management and my thanks to them for their co-operation and courtesy all year.
Enjoy the celebrations, they are well deserved.
The opening game in the SE Systems Senior Championship takes place on Sunday Castle Road at 6pm and it’s Imokilly v Carbery.
Ladies football
The Cork Senior team are on the lookout for a new manager following the decision of Shane Roynane to step down after 3 seasons in charge.
Shane had a difficult task as a lot of the players that backboned the team for many years, called time on their illustrious careers, others for a variety of reasons including travel opted out.
The season just ended started poorly with relegation to Division 2, but they regrouped and had a good championship losing to Kerry in the final, but as 2nd seeds for the All-Ireland, they made the semi-final losing narrowly to Galway, when a somewhat soft penalty award went against them.
Again my thanks to Shane for his help over the 3 years and we wish him well in his next venture.
There are games in the County Senior Championship.
Starting tonight it’s Clonakilty v Kinsale at 7.30pm the latter enjoying home advantage, similarly champions Mourneabbey entertain Fermoy with a 7pm throw-in.
There are two games on Sunday both at 3pm - Éire Óg v Aghada in Ovens, while in Cloughduv it’s St Val’s v Castlehaven.
Eamonn Fitzpatrick RIP
‘A warrior’ - just one of the many tributes paid to Eamonn on his passing Sunday after an illness that he bore with the same spirit and determination he displayed in the famed blue jersey of his beloved ‘Barr’s a club he served with distinction on and off the field.
He won many medals with Coláiste Chríost Rí, UCC and Cork but the ‘counties’ won with St Finbarr’s in both hurling and football are the ones he cherished most.
On retiring from playing, he immersed himself in continuing to work for the club, as a selector, coach and officer and in all these roles never gave less than 100% just as he did when on the field.
In recent years he took great pride watching on as his children and grandchildren continuing on that tradition by wearing the jersey.
Eamonn was a gentleman, yes he was tough and hard on the field but when the game was over, he would shake hands and say see you next time.
Sincere sympathy to his family and his friends and colleagues in St Finbarr’s at this sad time, they have lost a legend.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h'anam dílis.