The wait for clarity goes on
This time next week we will have a clearer picture of when activities on the playing field can resume, although the recent rise in case numbers has certainly not helped.
The hope was that the inter-county squads could return to training on 5 April which would lead to a start of the league in May, will that now happen?
The news that club activity - training only - at adult and underage will commence on 12 April in Ulster is welcome, and there is a strong desire for a similar move for our underage players.
So with the playing fields silent, let’s take a look at the 2021 County Premier Senior Hurling Championship and try and pick the contenders.
Intriguing Championship in prospect
The format for this season’s Championship will be similar to last season - 12 club teams in groups of 4, with 2 to advance to the knockout phase from each group. When this was agreed upon for 2020, the initial plan was for 3 to progress, but time constraints brought about by the pandemic altered that and for the better in my opinion, as it cut out the possibility of a few dead rubbers in all groups.
One change to the 12 club teams this year is that Ballyhea were relegated and replaced by another North Cork side Charleville, winners of the Senior ‘A’ Championship.
In fact Charleville were hard done by in the first year of the new format. In their first year in Senior they lost by 1 point to Glen Rovers after extra-time in a thrilling game in Mallow. Had Charleville won not only would they have retained Senior status, Na Piarsaigh would have been graded Senior ‘A’ last year.
The top three seeds this year will be champions Blackrock, runners-up Glen Rovers and beaten semi-finalists Erin’s Own, while the other semi-finalists UCC will start their campaign in the Colleges and Divisional section. Those three clubs will all be in separate groups and cannot meet until the knockout stages.
Of course as the draw has not yet been held making predictions is not easy, but let’s take a look at the participants.
Champions Blackrock will bid to emulate Glen Rovers, the last club team to record back to back wins in 2015-2016, and will enter the Championship as favourites. The management team remain in place, the panel is a young and a strong one as they showed in the final, where their depth got them over the line.
What of Glen Rovers? After a fabulous stint, manager Richie Kelleher has stepped down, with Ian Lynam who has been coach for the duration of Richie’s term now the main man, while David Cunningham has joined the management team.
With the clocking running down in the final, they had one hand on the cup, but can have few complaints how the extra-time panned out. Glen eased through the group and while they were tested by surprise packet Erin’s Own, they had enough in hand to get over the line, and any side with Patrick Horgan will fancy their chances.
Erin’s Own with Martin Bowen once again guiding their fortunes will be well organized and hard to beat. Robbie O’Flynn is their main man, but an over reliance on a few seasoned operators might prove their undoing, but don’t rule them out.
Sars were hugely disappointed at their loss to neighbours Erin’s Own, after which Brian Roche stepped down to be replaced by Michael Myers. Myers has an excellent record of underage success with the majority of these players, appointing Daniel Kearney as captain is a good move.
Sars won 4 titles in 8 years but last tasted success in 2014. A number of their players have a lot of hurling played, but there still a kick in them.
Ben O’Connor is beginning his beginning year with Midleton, and will have been hugely disappointed at their showing last year. With no Cork commitments, Conor Lehane might just thrive.
Winners in 2013, they were runners-up to Imokilly in 2018, so they will feel they have the nucleus of a squad capable of mounting a serious challenge again.
Charleville is a team that could have a serious impact on this Championship, and whoever draws them in the group phase will face a testing encounter. There’s is a young squad with bundles of talent; key of course is Darragh Fitzgibbon - if he can avoid injury, his impact could be massive.
What of the rest? St Finbarr’s now with Ronan Curran back in charge will look to put a disastrous campaign behind them; heavy defeats by Glen Rovers and Na Piarsaigh led to a change of management ahead of their final group game against Carrigtwohill, which they won easily and salvaged their season. They have won championships at under 20 and minor in the last couple of years and they will look to make the knockout phase.
Douglas with what they have available especially in attack should be doing better, a fact they will probably agree on. Can they improve on that? Coach Shane Brick will certainly hope they can, it’s another big year for them.
Newtownshandrum came within a puck of the ball of making the quarter-finals they are always formidable opposition. Bishopstown have added Brendan O’Driscoll to their coaching team and having avoided relegation in a play-off with Ballyhea will be keen to do better this time round, so many dual players though will be an issue.
Na Piarsaigh emerged from their group courtesy of a win over the ‘Barrs and a draw with Carrigtwohill but shipped heavy defeats to Glen Rovers and UCC, while after credible displays against Glen and Na Piarsaigh (a draw), Carrigtwohill faded badly against a resurgent ‘Barrs in their last group game and for all their hard work had only 1 point to show for their effort, but it was enough to keep them out of the relegation play-off.
So which teams will progress to the knock out phase, 5 to the quarters and 1 to the semi-final?
Difficult to call now as a number of factors need to be considered, how will the dual clubs cope, how will the intercounty season impact on clubs with a number of players tied up with Cork - will they be fresh or injury free, depending of course on how far Cork progress?
The draw will also have a bearing of course.
That aside, I will take a punt on Blackrock, Glen Rovers and Sars been there at the business end, with Charleville, Midleton, Douglas and possibly St Finbarr’s also in the shake up.
The last remaining spot in the knock out stages will go to the winners of the Colleges and Divisional section, which had only 3 entries last season, UCC, Duhallow and Imokilly, with the latter as champions having their reign ended by UCC, who forced eventual winners Blackrock to extra-time in the semi-final.
Assuming there will be more entries this year along with the 3 mentioned above, Seandun have assembled a strong backroom team, including Justin McCarthy, but have they the depth to make an impact?
The one spot from this section would appear to be between UCC or Imokilly but again the timing of the Championship may have a bearing on how they perform, and with more entries it could make for an interesting section.
I could be completely off the mark with my predictions, but let’s hope for an exciting Championship and hopefully supporters will be allowed attend.
Elsewhere
Interesting to see the Cork County Board submit plans for further development of Páirc Uí Chaoimh - I particularly like the idea of a musuem, the fabled history of Cork GAA deserves to be acknowledged, and let’s hope it comes to fruition, despite the objections that have been voiced.
The Cork Camogie Board’s recent fundraiser in association with Jigsaw helped generate close on €12,000 shared between both organisations and well done to all involved.
Congratulations
to Blarney’s Shane Barrett on winning the Munster Under 20 hurler of the year award and to Clonakilty’s Martina O’Brien who was named as the Ladies Football player of the year, both well deserving recipients of these accolades.
Sympathy to the family of Paddy Coleman who passed away over the weekend. Paddy represented Youghal on the County Board for many years and he was a pleasure to deal with at all times. He had many interests, golf, athletics but his many years involvement with Youghal GAA are fondly recalled by all who knew this affable gentleman, may he rest in peace.
Take care and stay safe.