Ballygiblin head for Croke Park and double header in the Páirc

It seems like every weekend now there are huge games and this weekend we have an All-Ireland Final along with a big double header in the Páirc all on Saturday, which means for some Sunday will be relatively calm.

AIB All-Ireland Junior Hurling Final

Ballygiblin v Mooncoin at Croke Park Saturday at 3pm

Irrespective of the grade, any Cork v Kilkenny All-Ireland Final has a special aura about it and this encounter should be no exception.

The last time this title found its way to Leeside was in 2017 when Mayfield beat - yes you have guessed - Mooncoin by a single point in a thriller.

In the aftermath of their semi-final win, Ballygiblin Coach Ronan Dwane knew the final would be a real test. “No doubt about that - any team from Kilkenny will be well prepared and well drilled so we know exactly what we will be up against in the final.”

Ronan continued: “Mooncoin were unlucky in the last time they were in the final. I was at the match and Mayfield won a brilliant game so they have a few lads still around and the experience of Croke Park will stand to them, also they were premier minor hurling champions two years ago and that’s a high standard in a county like Kilkenny.”

As for making Croke Park, the proud Aghada man was thrilled. “It’s fantastic for the club and the whole area. The buzz in the build up to the Munster Final was something else, you can see the crowd here (Portlaoise) so the next two weeks will be something to savour.”

Ronan was also hopeful that Darragh Flynn would be fit. “We could have played him today but as we were always in control, there was no need to risk him but with two weeks to the final he should be good to go.”

Mooncoin were impressive winners over Salthill-Knocknacarra in their semi.

Eoin Purcell is a competent goalkeeper a survivor from ’17, while Cormac Daly, Martin O’Neill and Paul Henebery anchor a solid defence.

The attack evolves around the axis at 11 and 14 - Martin Gannon and Patrick Walsh with Ciaran Quilty and Adam Croke offering excellent support.

The Cork and Munster champions have battled their way to this final and are improving and becoming harder to beat with every outing. Apart from the semi-final win over Fullen Gaels, they showed their mettle in the wins over Caherline and Skeeheenarinky.

Mark Keane is a huge addition while Brian O’Gorman, Fionn Herlihy and Barry Coffey have benefitted from his presence.

Darragh Flynn will be a huge addition in midfield, while in attack Joseph O’Sullivan, Colin English, Dean Barry and goalscorer Sean O’Sullivan will look to test the Mooncoin defence.

Mooncoin will start as favourites but the North Cork outfit are a resilient group and it is well within their capabilities to complete the fairytale and lift the title.

The game will be live on C103.

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Cork v Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 5pm

Having opted out of the Munster Senior Hurling League, this is Cork’s first competitive outing since the All-Ireland Final loss to Limerick last August. They have had challenge games and also the annual Canon O’Brien Cup game.

Manager Kieran Kingston says they are happy with their pre-season. “We are really as a lot of our players have been involved in the third level competitions, even this week we have players playing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so in terms of match fitness they should be okay, but we have to balance that without overloading them.”

Kieran also said the introduction of new players has helped. “We got great service from the players that have left and we thank them for that; now we have a group of players coming in, some have two All-Ireland medals in their pockets and that’s a huge plus. They are working hard and hopefully in the weeks and months ahead they will develop into good seniors players as it is a big step up.”

Injuries rule a few players out among them Declan Dalton, Niall Cashman and Alan Connolly and they will miss the first couple of games.

Changes to the backroom team with Noel Furlong now the coach, Pat Mulcahy is also on board with Stephen Casey now responsible for S&C, and Kieran is pleased at how they are working with the squad.

It’s Clare on Saturday and Kieran knows it will be a tough test. “Word is they have a few injuries but they had two outings in the Munster League and they will have benefitted from that but we are ready and looking to get a good run in the league especially with the championship starting in April.”

The switching of the Clare game to Thurles as Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be unavailable is not a concern as Kieran explained. “We would prefer to be playing at home, but as an alternative Thurles is a good option, as a team we like playing there and our supporters love travelling to the venue so for us it’s not an issue, while not having to play three weeks in a row is also the good thing to come out of the redrafted schedule.”

The composition of the Cork team will be interesting bearing in mind the demands of the players involved in Fitzgibbon Cup, but new captain Mark Coleman, Sean O’Donoghue, Robert Downey, Shane Kingston and Patrick Horgan should all feature.

Clare will be without the injured Tony Kelly but Eibhear Qulligan, Jason McCarthy, Aaron Fitzgerald, Shane Golden and Cathal Malone all played in the recent game against Limerick and look set to continue.

Opening games can be hard to predict but home advantage should see Cork get off to a winning start.

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Cork v Clare at Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 7pm

It’s a bit early in the season but there is no doubt this is a must-win game for Keith Ricken’s side as another defeat will dent the confidence of the squad and with tough away game to come, points will be hard to pick up.

In recent years Clare have always proved difficult to beat, even last year in Ennis with a more experienced side on duty, it took a huge effort from Cork to get over the line.

Clare began their campaign with a comfortable win over an Offaly side many are expecting big things from, on the back of winning the U20 All-Ireland title last year.

Colm Collin is one of the longest serving managers and has moulded a fine experienced side and with a favourable draw avoiding Kerry for the first time in years, he will feel they could make the Munster Final.

Clare come in buoyant mood confident they can make it two from two. The sides did meet in the McGrath Cup a few weeks ago on a wet and windy night in West Clare, Cork were winners on that occasion but both sides will be much changed from that game.

Cork were poor in Dr Hyde Park and a number of areas will be of concern when the review is done ahead of this encounter. There were 13 turnovers in the first half alone, 14 wides, lengthy periods in both halves without a score, and just 3 points from play.

After the game: Keith said: “No real shortage of effort but shot selection and game management at times was disappointing”.

The St Finbarr’s contingent will not be available for this weekend.

So will the composition of the team differ much from that of last Sunday? Unlikely.

Tadgh Corkery has improved with every outing, Cian Kiely, Mattie Taylor and Sean Powter worked hard as did the midfield pairing of Rory Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan. The attack is over reliant on Brian Hurley; Mark Cronin can be dangerous, while Eoghan McSweeney showed what he is capable of having endured a long injury lay off.

Clare can call on players that have backboned their team for a number of years now among them David Tubridy, Keelan Sexton, Cillian Brennan, Darren O’Neill, Eoin Cleary, Peter Lillis and Keelan Sexton.

On the evidence of their last two outings with a low scoring return, it’s hard to see Cork winning, unless there is considerable improvement all round.

Both games for Páirc Uí Chaoimh are live on C103.

Camogie

The Littlewoods National League gets underway on Saturday with Cork having home advantage in their opening D2 against Wexford in Castle Road at 2pm.

Cork are under new management this year and will be captained by Finola Neville, there is a nice mix in the panel with a number of players who played senior in recent years now eligible for selection.

Wexford after a few very poor years are slowly showing signs of a recovery but Cork should still collect the points on offer.

On Sunday Cork begin their Minor Championship campaign with a trip to Tynagh for a 1st round clash with Galway - 2pm start here also.

In brief

It was not the best of weekends on the playing field with all but St Michaels Rosscarbery tasting defeat.

Special mention to St Finbarr’s who gave it their all in an absorbing encounter. It’s been a fantastic season with many highlights, I’m sure they will absorb the lessons from last Saturday and come back even stronger.

Mourneabbey will be disappointed with their performance against the Galway champions, but with the quality in their squad, they too will regroup and be the team to beat.

Last Tuesday’s County Board meeting endorsed the introduction of a fifth tier football championship for 2023, which in effect means the 7 divisional junior champions will automatically move up to Premier Junior. The eighth team to move will be Urhan as the sole Junior A team in Beara.