Three more finals this weekend

After the excitement of 5 football finals last weekend, there’s a mixture this coming weekend with hurling deciders pencilled in. There’s ladies football action in the Munster championship also down for decision.

Co-op Superstores Intermediate Hurling Final

Erin’s Own v Lisgoold on Saturday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 5pm

It’s been an exciting few years for this the 2nd team from Erin’s Own as they are about to contest their 3rd county final in a row, having won the Junior and Premier Junior titles in successive seasons.

They are now on the cusp of becoming the only senior hurling club to have their 2nd team competing in the Premier grade; in football that accolade belongs to Nemo Rangers, which would be some achievement.

Equally it’s been a good couple of years for Lisgoold on the back of their win in the County Junior Championship. It should make for an interesting encounter, in fact this is their 3rd final in 5 years.

Both sides impressed in their respective groups; Lisgoold with 3 wins from 3 and going direct to the semi-final where they accounted for Ballygiblin, while Erin’s Own had a QF and had an easy win over Mayfield before seeing off Midleton in the semi-final.

There is a nice mix of youth and experience in the Caherlag outfit and with a few more returning from injury they will be formidable opposition for their East Cork neighbours.

Alan Bowen, Stephen Cronin and Kieran Murphy have been around successful teams and are well versed in the arts of winning big games, while others like Alan Moynihan, Dara Twomey, Ian O’Mahony, Cathal Linehan and Stephen Horgan have impressed in the campaign.

Lisgoold had 6 points to spare over Ballygiblin in their semi-final and certainly while not taking from Lisgoold’s win, the North Cork side did not help their cause by having 2 players dismissed at vital times.

It actually did not help Lisgoold for a period but they finally resolved their issues and reeled off 10 unanswered points to seal their place in the final, even if they did hit 17 wides - an area they will hope to improve on for the final.

3 of their players, John Cronin, Diarmuid Healy and Liam O’Shea were on the Imokilly team that were crowned senior champions recently and that experience will be a huge benefit.

John Cashman, Mark Hegarty, Cathal Hickey, James O’Driscoll and Luke Walsh have all shown their quality in the run to this final.

Local derbies especially in a final fall into ‘a life of their own category’ and that’s what makes this decider an intriguing one.

Both side know how to win, but having more experienced at this level might just give Erin’s Own a slight edge.

Co-Op Superstores Premier Junior Hurling Final

St Catherine’s v Russell Rovers on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1.30pm

At half time in their semi-final against Ballygarvan, St Catherine’s looked in trouble but whatever manager Denis Walsh said in the dressing room, they were a transformed side in the 2nd half and are now back in the final for the 2nd year in a row.

Last year they lost to Erin’s Own but to their credit they regrouped, won the Munster championship (as a 2nd team Erin’s Own were not allowed play in Munster) before losing the All-Ireland Final.

All that means it’s been a long season for them and they are determined to atone for last season’s loss and that would earn them the right to defend their Munster title, easier said than done it must be said.

Russell Rovers themselves were Munster champions a short few years ago and have had an impressive championship.

They topped their group which gave them a direct route to the semi-final where they were 1-19 to 1-12 winners over Nemo Rangers which was tighter than the score would indicate but they were deserving winners.

Looking at their group results, they were impressive and comfortable in all 3 wins and in the process racked up some big scores.

Josh Beausang is their main threat in attack, 1-11 in that semi-final win and certainly Catherine’s will need to contain this talented player of they are to succeed.

It is far from a one man show as Ross Walsh, Luke Duggan Murray, Brian Hartnett, Kevin Moynihan, James Kennefick and Kieran Walsh all played important roles so far.

They do have a concern in that Kennefick picked up a red card in that game and they will hope that it can be overturned, to allow him play in the final.

Denis Walsh has built a squad that certainly battle to the end and with Rory Galvin, quality goalkeeper Eoin Davis who won a senior medal with Imokilly, Nathan Sheehan, Kevin Barry, Sean O’Donoghue, Eoghan O’Riordan, Oisin Fitzgerald and Kyle Wallace, they have players who know how to win tight games.

In fact in all of their games this championship they have gone to the wire, a similar scenario could emerge on Sunday and if that is the case they get the nod to prevail.

McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Intermediate Football replay

Kilshannig v Aghabullogue on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 3.30pm

Of the 5 finals that were played last weekend, this one was probably the best, and showed when football is played like that, it can be very pleasing on the eye.

Can they repeat it?

Let’s hope so, but both will probably adopt a slightly different approach this time around.

It was fitting that it ended level as neither side deserved to lose, even though at various stages they both looked as though they had it won.

Quality players produced quality scores in a pulsating encounter.

Colm O’Shea, Diarmuid O’Sullivan hit 0-3 when introduced, Bill Curtin and Killian and Eanna O’Hanlon were key players for Kilshannig.

Paul Ring was and remains a notable absentee for Aghabullogue but in his absence Colm Gillespie, Luke Casey, Matthew Bradley, John Corkery, Tom Long, Conor Smith and Evan O’Sullivan delivered big games.

Kilshannig were favourites first time out, did Aghabullogue who were leading by 2 points heading into injury time miss their chance?

All those factors come into play.

Replays rarely are as good as the drawn encounter maybe this one will be the exception.

I had a fancy for Kilshannig last time out and my view is they will get the job done this time around.

All 3 finals are live on C103.

Munster Ladies Football Championship

Three Cork teams are in action over the weekend and 2 of them hold home advantage.

In the Intermediate grade, O’Donovan Rossa who were All-Ireland Junior champions last season welcome Scartaglen from Kerry to Skibbereen on Saturday at 1pm.

There’s a very big game for newly crowned senior champions Aghada when they play Tipperary champions Comeragh Rangers in Rostellan on Sunday at 1pm.

Senior B winners Clonakilty make the trip all the way to Kilmihill in county Clare on Sunday again with a 1pm start.