Last four places in football on offer
After the drama of last weekend’s hurling - including a 26 shot penalty shoot out - it’s the turn of the footballers this weekend with QFs of the McCarthy Insurance Group scheduled.
It’s semi-final time also in the SE Systems Senior Camogie Championship and the Ladies Football Senior A and B championships.
Premier Senior
Champions Castlehaven are safely into the semi-final, they will be keeping a close eye on potential last four opposition as the 3 QFs take place.
St Finbarr’s v Ballincollig on Friday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.45pm
The ‘Barr’s having lost to Mallow in Rd 2, really showed what they are capable of by demolishing Valley Rovers in their final game and the saying that goals wins games was very evident; they bagged 4 that day.
It was their most clinical display to date and if they reproduce it, they will be very hard to beat.
Stephen Sherlock was to the fore, and got excellent support from Ian Maguire, Brian Hayes, Ethan Twomey, William Buckley and Cillian Myers Murray.
Ballincollig having lost their opening game, bounced back with wins over Newcestown and Éire Óg and had Liam O’Connell available for that game and it remains to be seen if he still around for this match.
There is a lot of good quality players at manager Podsie O’Mahony’s disposal, among them Luke Fahy, Frank Down, Sean Kiely, Darragh O’Mahony, Peadar O’Neill, Brian Keating and the ever reliable Cian Dorgan and they will relish the opportunity to take down one of the fancied sides in the championship.
‘Barr’s probably for the first time this season, with their hurlers out, have had a clear run at this game and with confidence high after their excellent win in the last round, look well equipped to make the semi-final.
Nemo Rangers v Clonakilty on Sunday in Bandon at 2.15pm
Last year these sides met at the same stage and venue, in the most appalling conditions imaginable. Nemo won a very low scoring contest and in recent years have got the better of their West Cork opponents.
Under manager Robbie O’Dwyer, they topped their group unbeaten and while they will admit they have not been at their best, it’s all about getting into the knockout phase and when they do that, they generally improve.
They are down a few players on last year, notably Luke Connolly, but they always find a way.
Paul Kerrigan is still doing the business; add in Micheál Aodh Martin, Kevin O’Donovan, the Cronins Mark, Alan and Stephen, along with Ciaran Horgan and the ever improving Ross Corkery gives them a nice blend of youth and experience.
Clonakilty needed something from their game against St Michaels and they duly delivered with a comfortable 2-18 to 1-6 win and that will give them a nice boost, but they know this will be a much tougher test.
Darragh Gough with 1-5, Conor Daly 0-7, were in razor sharp form in that game and with Maurice Shanley, the Whites, Thomas Clancy and Dan Peet playing well they will not be found wanting.
Clon will test them but Nemo to win.
Muskerry v Mallow on Sunday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 4pm
The divisional side caused a huge upset by beating a highly rated Duhallow side in their section final and will face this clash with confidence; the difficulty is a number of their players will be involved in club games ahead of this match and that could be a factor.
Mallow beat St Finbarr’s then lost to Douglas which hints at a lack of consistency, but in Matty Taylor, Ryan Harkin, Sean McDonnell, Jack Dillon, Sam Copps and Kevin Sheehan they should have enough to win especially with a better preparation then their opponents.
Senior A
Doheny’s v Cill Na Martra on Friday in Macroom at 7.45pm
Bishopstown v Carrigaline on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.15pm
Mark Buckley’s return from his travels has been a huge addition to Dohenys and the manner in which they saw off West Cork rivals O’Donovan Rossa was evident of a growing confidence within the group but this will challenge them as the Gaeltacht men are also in good form.
They will though be disappointed with their 2nd half display against Carrigaline in which they struggled for scores after been dominant in the opening period.
The Ó Duinnins did the bulk of their scoring that day and they will need a few more to step up to the plate if they are to progress.
Fionn Herlihy, Keith White, Jerry Farrell and Aaron Mannix are important players for the Dunmanway side who have shown improvement in their last couple of games and were runners-up to Newcestown last year.
Hard one to call, Cill Na Martra are a resilient bunch and if it goes to the wire, they might just shade it.
Carrigaline are really going well in both codes with the hurlers into the SFs and the footballers are looking to join them and they both won their respective leagues as well.
They looked in real bother at half-time against Cill Na Martra but really turned it around with Cork player Brian O’Driscoll very impressive. Niall Coakley, Cian Barry, Shane Mellett and Chris Herlihy answered the call when it was needed.
As for Bishopstown, their hurlers were relegated last week so they will hope to give the club a boost by making the last four.
Their group run was quite good and the only loss was to Knocknagree when they were already assured of qualification and the semi-final spot was beyond them.
A concern though they only scored 0-9 that day and they will need to increase that significantly if they harbour hopes of progressing.
Darragh O’Connor, Paul Honohan, Liam Hogan, Michael Power, Michael Nunan and Brian Clifford are big players for the ‘Town who have shown enough to suggest this is a game they are well capable of winning and might just do that.
Premier Intermediate
Naomh Abán v Rockchapel in Banteer
Bantry Blues v Iveleary in Kealkil both on Saturday at 5.30pm
The Gaeltacht side even without midfielder Conchur Ó Criodain had a big win over Bantry in the last round. The latter were already qualified but that should not take from their victory.
Daniel Ó Ceallaigh, Colm De Roiste, Maidhci Ó Liathain and Maidhc Ó Duinnin all impressed in that game.
Rockchapel had an emotional game v Castletownbere in the last round. They led 0-9 to 0-3 at one stage, but only added just 1 more point and the fade out might be a concern, the 0-10 each draw was enough to get them through.
Kieran Collins, Jack Curtin, Conor Casey and Nicholas Lenihan are big players for them but the odds favour a Naomh Abán win.
Bantry opted not to start Ruairi Deane and Sean O’Leary in their final group game but both will return for this clash, which has the makings of a lively encounter.
Deane is a key player for them and Arthur Coakley, Jack Sheedy, Cillian O’Brien and Shane Keevers showing good form they will relish the challenge another Gaeltacht side will present them with.
Chris Óg Jones is an injury concern for Iveleary, he left the loss to Aghabullogue late on, while Cathal Vaughan was an absentee that night as well; they will need them both fit if they are to win this one.
Kilshannig and Aghabullogue will be keeping an eye on these games as semi-final opponents.
Premier Junior
Kilmurry v Glenville on Friday in Ovens at 7.45pm
Canovee v Urhan on Saturday in Drimoleague at 5.30pm
It’s been a long few seasons for Kilmurry with back to back Munster final appearances and it might just be taking its toll. Glenville after the trauma of their abandoned game against Kinsale, which they were well ahead in, but lost the re-fixture, might find games on the bounce will come against them.
Urhan edged out St Nick’s and Millstreet to grab 2nd spot in their group but might just find a lively Canovee side too hot to handle
Buttevant and Kinsale are the semi-finalists here.
Intermediate A
Boherbue v Glanworth on Saturday in Mallow at 5.30pm
Gabriel Rangers v Mitchelstown on Sunday at Páirc Uí Rinn at 2pm
The return, for a few weeks anyway, from Australia of Mark Keane has given Mitchelstown and Ballygiblin a huge boost and his presence adds greatly to both teams, and with Cathal O’Mahoney fit again (0-6 in their win over neighbours Glanworth), they should make the semi-final.
In the other game Boherbue, even if they did lose to Glanmire last time out, have been very consistent in both league and championship and will be favoured to win this one, especially with John Corkery and David O’Connor in scoring form.
Glanmire and Adrigole are into the semi-finals.
Relegation play-offs
Four of the five games are on Saturday at 4pm with the fifth in Premier Senior on Sunday at the same time.
A lot at stake for all involved with Éire Óg, Macroom, Kiskeam, St Vincent’s and St Nick’s the favourites to survive.
SE Systems Senior Camogie
Just one of the two semi-finals will be played this weekend with the Glen Rovers v Sarsfields game deferred until Thursday week.
Castle Road on Saturday at 1.45pm will see St Finbarr’s face Cloughduv, a repeat of last year’s QF in which the Mid-Cork side sprung a major surprise by defeating the-then hot favourites; can they do so again?
Cloughduv have won a few tight games in reaching the last 4 and those games will stand to them as will the experience that Breige Corkery brings to the team. Amy Sheppard (2-4 in the QF win over Courcey Rovers), Niamh McNabola, Lisa Lynch and Clodagh Sheppard are also playing well.
The ‘Barr’s have won all their games comfortably and will be hot favourites for this one with Meabh and Orlaith Cahalane, Nicole Olden and Keeva McCarthy expected to guide to the final.
Congratulations to the 6 Cork Intermediate players on winning a PWC Soaring Star award: Niamh O’Leary, Emma Flanagan, Aoife Barrett, Tara Mc Carthy, Lauren Homan and Cliona O’Callaghan and also to Ger Manley named Manager of the Year.
Ladies Football
Mourneabbey’s reign as senior champions, they were bidding for a 10th title in 11 years is over, and instead they will contest the B semi-finals which along with the A semi’s go ahead the weekend.
Aghada v Glanmire in Rostellan and St Vals v Éire Óg in Canovee are both on Sunday at 3pm.
In the B SFs also on Sunday, it’s Clonakilty v Castlehaven at 12pm in Clonaklity while at 3pm it’s Mourneabbey v Kinsale in Mourneabbey.