The big games keep on coming

We may be into the second weekend of November but there is no let up with games across all codes, and now the AIB Munster Club Championship is underway.

Co-Op Super Stores Premier Intermediate Hurling Final

Carrigaline v Watergrasshill on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 3.30pm

This is a repeat of a 1st round clash that for long periods looked like going Carrigaline’s way but the ‘Hill turned it around with a late rally to win.

It was actually an incredible group which ended with 3 teams on 2 points, the ‘Hill going direct to the semi-final and it was ultimately decided on the final day with scoring difference getting Carrigaline into the QF. In that they beat highly fancied local rivals Ballinhassig before edging out Ballincollig in the semi-final.

All that while they competing and winning the Senior A Football Championship to regain their place in the Premier grade after just one season. It’s some feat, with a host of dual players facilitated by excellent co-operation by the management teams.

So they are on the cusp of a double, hoping to emulate the feats of Aghabullogue and Newcestown last year.

While all that was going on, Watergrashill were biding their time before eventually comfortably seeing off Mallow in the semi-final.

They were clinical in that victory and their ability to get goals was a telling factor; Padraig O’Leary with 2, Ciaran O’Leary and Brendan Lehane with the others.

Add Daire O’Leary, Adam Murphy, Sean Desmond and Aaron Spriggs into the mix and it’s a nice evenly balanced side that are in good from.

Carrigaline will be without the injured Kevin Kavanagh, and while they did enjoy the celebrations after the football victory, they quickly got back to business determined to complete the double.

In fact they are bidding for a 4th title this season having already won both their leagues, and that is a sign that they have momentum on their side.

David Drake, Rob O’Shea, Brian Kelleher, Eanna Desmond, Rhys McCarthy and David Griffin have been key players for the Carrigdhoun side all year.

The ‘Hill are fancied to make it a clean sweep for the Imokilly division in the hurling championship, but Carrigaline have defied the odds all year and may very well do so again.

The match is live on C103.

AIB Munster Senior Football Championship QF

Castlehaven v Dr Crokes at Lewis Road Killarney on Sunday at 1.15pm

Any Cork v Kerry clash has an intrigue of its own, even if at inter-county level it has dipped somewhat, but at club level it is always interesting.

The compact and well appointed Dr Croke’s ground will only add to the occasion as the home side manager Pat O’Shea will not want to lose on home soil. The last time they welcomed then Cork champions the ‘Barrs a few years ago, they were comfortable winners.

This will be different though, the ‘Haven are the reigning Munster champions and they have certainly developed into a much stronger team since their dramatic win over Dingle in last year’s final.

It is safe to say they were comfortable winners of the Cork championship and will be keen to do what no Cork club has done since Nemo Rangers in 2001 and 2002 and retain the title.

Crokes themselves have an impressive record in Munster; 8 times winners including a 3 in a row from 2011-13 and their last win came in 2018.

They have been the dominant team in Kerry this year, winning the Division 1 league title and then adding the club championship as well, so no doubt they’re the form team.

In the county final goals were the key; they got 3 in the space of 6 minutes, to beat a Dingle side that the ‘Haven beat on penalties in the Munster final.

Kieran O’Leary, David Shaw and Evan Looney were the scorers and with Michael Burns, Tony Brosnan, Mark O’Shea and Fionn Fitzgerald all making important performances.

The champions will travel there confident of winning; they are well set up, work hard with and without the ball and have quality players.

Mark Collins as captain leads by example; Rory Maguire and Jack Cahalane are really in great form, and the Hurleys Brian and Michael are scorers in chief. Damien Cahalane is a doubt, while Conor Cahalane could start having come on at half-time in the county final.

Hard to call this one, Crokes at home will be favoured, but the ‘Haven have the capacity to win.

AIB Munster Intermediate Football QF

Kilshannig v Rathkeale on Saturday in Kilshannig at 1.15pm

As I pen this, I presume the newly crowned Cork champions are back training, but maybe they are still savouring their success and elevation to Senior A for 2025.

When the dust settles they will refocus for this game that gives them an opportunity to extend their season and progress to the Munster semi-final, where Austin Stacks or Laune Rangers await.

Last Sunday’s win was achieved with a mixture of good quality scores, along with resolute defending especially when down to 14 men, after Bill Curtin’s black card, actually outscoring Aghabullogue 2 to 1 in that period.

They do have some very good players led by excellent captain Colm O’Shea man of the match last Sunday, Darragh and Diarmuid O’Sullivan, the O’Hanlons Eanna and Killian and Alan O’Connell among them.

Rathkeale were involved in hurling and football finals in recent weeks and that might just work in Kilshannig’s favour.

The key to this game will be how the Cork side will have recovered from their exertions on and off the field because it’s safe to say that in general they would be operating at a different level to their opponents from just up the road.

If their attitude and approach is right, coupled with home advantage Kilshannig should win.

AIB Munster Junior Football QF

Kilmurry v Michael Cusacks Clare on Saturday at 1.15pm in Cloughduv

A 3rd successive Munster campaign for this group and a 2nd as champions. Last year they lost to the ‘Barr’s who were ineligible to play in Munster, so they are well versed in the requirements of this C’ship.

They have contested the last 2 Munster finals where Kerry opposition ended their ambitions and once again they are on the opposite side of the draw and will be favoured to reach another decider.

First up is the Clare champions, whose record in this championship is poor.

Kilmurry will admit the Cork final was not great but then when you are playing your neighbours, it’s all about winning and that is what they did.

In Liam Wall, Padraig Brehanu, William Ronan, Conor Dodd, Kyle Kelleher, Lloyd Asling and Brian Hinchion, they have players experienced enough to ensure they win this game and maybe even with a bit to spare. Cashel King Cormack’s await the winners in the semi-final.

Co-Op Super Stores Intermediate Final replay

Erin’s Own v Lisgoold on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 1.30pm

The drawn game last Saturday was a thriller with the lead changing hand several times and at various stages both sides looked likely winners and a draw was the right outcome.

Kieran ‘Hero’ Murphy hit the leveller with virtually the last puck of the game that did not have its first free until the 24th minute, just 2 in the 1st half in all.

It maybe their 2nd team but Erin’s Own showed enough to suggest they are going to be very hard to beat and might have the edge.

The match is live on C103.

Ladies football

Mallow is certainly the place to be this weekend with 3 Cork clubs involved in AIB Munster Finals, and only for a very narrow defeat, the county would have been represented in all 4.

First up on Saturday at 1pm, it’s the Senior B decider - Clonakilty against Ballymacarbry from Waterford whose 41 year reign in the Decie was ended recently, ironically a similar fate befell Mourneabbey, once the dominant team in Cork.

This is followed by the Junior Final at 3pm. It’s Midleton v Mungret St Pauls and the Cork girls will look to Sadhbh Beausang, Lucy Cashman and Lucy Wallace as they bid for a 1st Munster title.

On Sunday at 1pm, it’s the Intermediate Final with O’Donovan Rossa v St Ailbe’s from Limerick.

It’s been a hectic year for the Skibb girls having won the Junior All-Ireland last December. They could they make it back to back titles and they certainly are in good form.

In the semi-final they overcame a very stern test from the Kerry champions Scartaglen and that will give them a huge boost ahead of this final.

They have quality players in Laura O’Mahony, Kate O’Donovan, Fionnula O’Driscoll and Eabha O’Donovan and lookwell equipped to make the All-Ireland semi-final.

Camogie

Recently crowned Cork intermediate champions Ballinora head to Littelton on Saturday at 2pm for their Munster Final against Clanmaurice from Kerry.

This will be a really tough test as Clanmaurice make up the bulk of the Kerry intermediate team; that took Kilkenny to extra-time in the All-Ireland semi-final and will be favourites to win.

Cork senior Meabh Murphy is a big player for Ballinora, with Amy O’Riordan, Cliona Dooley, Rachel Murphy and Louise O’Neill all in good form.

Tough test but it’s one they are well capable of passing.

Cork hurling and football

A good Friday for a quintet of Cork hurlers who pick up All-Star awards and congrats to Robert and Eoin Downey, Shane Barrett first time winners, Darragh Fitzgibbon who picked up his second and a third for Seamus Harnedy.

Interestingly the Glen Rovers duo became the 4th set of brothers from the county to win All-Stars, and only the 2nd set to be on the same team along with Ben and Jerry O’Connor, while Jim and Tom Cashman and Sean Óg and Setanta Ó hAilpín complete the quartet.

Different scenario for the footballers with Killian O’Hanlon and John O’Rourke calling time on their inter-county careers, while Steven Sherlock and Damien Gore are taking a year out and with Kevin Flahive also heading off on his travels, there are a lot of places up for grabs on John Cleary’s panel.

I also understand that both Kevin O’Donovan and Luke Fahy have long term injuries that might mean they could miss the start of the season.