Hurling and camogie ties top exciting bill
Last weekend was surely one of the most remarkable in terms of results for Cork clubs in action. Across all codes 6 were played and 6 won, and hopefully there’s more of the same this weekend with several vital games down for decision.
In fact between hurling and football, 5 of the 6 Cork champions have qualified for their respective provincial finals, the men of Sarsfields being the exception, which is fair going. Now let’s see how many can claim Munster honours!
AIB Munster Junior Hurling Final
St Catherine’s v Feenagh-Kilmeedy on Saturday in Mallow at 1.30pm
Having easily accounted for Ballinahinch in the semi-final, St Catherine’s manager Denis Walsh is really looking forward to the Munster Final. “It’s fantastic really, if you had told me at the start of the year that we would playing right into December I’m not sure how I would have felt, but it’s great for the club and it will certainly shorten the winter.”
As for their opponents on Saturday, Denis jokingly remarked about their football exploits saying “Please God it will take it out of them,’. He added: “Any team that reaches a Munster final, they deserve to be respected and we will do just that, get a recovery into the lads tomorrow, then back training on Tuesday and two weeks to prepare which is ideal.”
Feenagh were in Cork last Saturday losing heavily to Kilmurry in football, and next Saturday will be their 17th weekend out 18th that they will have played hurling or football.
That is some going and 11 are dual players and fatigue is bound to be a factor, that plus a few niggles here and there are bound to be hitting the panel which I would imagine is fairly stretched by now.
They won a cracking semi-final seeing off The Banner from Clare in Ennis, and while they were poor last Saturday, they will now be fully focussed on the hurling decider.
Diarmuid Coleman was the main man in that with 0-13 out of 0-20, while Maurice Fitzgibbon, Luke Ryan, John O’Gorman and Bobby Donegan all impressed.
Centre-back on both teams Bryan Hannigan left the field early in the 2nd half last Saturday and he would be a loss.
Catherine’s had a few knocks since the county final but have managed them well and while one or two are still absent, including Dan Mangan, they are in good shape heading into this game.
Eoin Davis is an excellent goalkeeper with the added bonus of been able to land long range points, Eoghan O’Riordan, Oisin Fitzgerald, Liam O’Connor, Kyle Wallace, Rory Galvin, Shane Cotter and the Mulcahys Matthew and Brian have really prospered in the Munster campaign.
St Catherine’s look better balanced, that plus the energy sapping efforts of the last week that the Limerick side have endured, all points to a win for the Imokilly lads and in the process set up an All-Ireland semi-final with the Connacht champions Easkey in 2 weeks time.
The match is live on C103.
AIB Munster Intermediate Hurling Final
Castlelyons v Corofin (Clare) on Saturday at 6pm at the Gaelic Grounds Limerick
Having survived an extra-time scare in the semi-final against Kerry champions Crotta-O’Neill’s, Castleyons will look for an all round improvement for this intriguing looking final with Corofin have had two good wins over Lorrha and Dromin-Athlacca.
The win in Kerry was a hard fought one and Castlelyons’ selector Brendan Hoare knew it would be. “We saw them beat Ferrybank and were suitably impressed and we knew coming down here it was going to be a battle and battle it was.”
Brendan was delighted the way the lads responded especially in extra-time. “It looked dodgy for a while but the experience we have stood to us and the fact that Crotta played last week; they got a bit tired I felt and we had a bit more energy in the last period.”
The lay-off since the county final didn’t help. “Look we celebrated the win and then got back and played a challenge game and that helped but I have no doubt that the game will bring us on.”
Anthony Spillane did not come home for this game, he’s working in Dubai, and Brendan was unsure if he would be available for the final. “The reality is I and we don’t know; obviously it’s a discussion we will have with Anthony and see exactly what his situation is, if he was around, he would be a big addition.”
Corofin led their semi-final from pillar to post and their ability to score from play was a factor in that win with 0-14 out of their tally coming from open play, impressive stuff.
Geraoid Kelly was top scorer with 0-8, while Michael Kelly 1-1 and James Organ 0-4 also made important contributions.
The fact that they conceded just 1-5 from play would suggest that their defensive unit anchored by Killian O’Connor, Damien O’Loughlin and Fionn Clancy is a fairly solid one.
Alan Fenton was the main man last time. His goal just before half-time proved to be the pivotal score as it cut a 10 point lead down to 0-7 with a strong wind to come in the 2nd half - he finished with 1-11.
Leon Doocey got the other goal while goalkeeper Jack Barry apart from making a couple of crucial saves also chipped over 3 long range points, big scores in a tight game.
The winning of that game was the contribution, apart from Fenton, of their experienced quartet in the extra-time, Colm Spillane, Niall O’Leary, Colm Barry and Jamie O’Leary were to the fore and helped them over the line.
It has the makings of an intriguing contest and hard to call, but if the experienced players that Castlelyons have play as well as they did in the semi-final, they get the nod to advance to the semi-final in two weeks time, where the Connacht champions await.
The match is live on C103.
AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie semi-final
Sarsfields v Sarsfields (Galway) on Saturday in Mallow at 4pm
The only certainty about this match is Sarsfields are going to win. Of course which one is to be decided as the Galway girls are the reigning All-Ireland champions and favourites again, but then Drom-Inch were Munster champions and the Glanmire girls sorted that one.
It’s been a good few weeks for the Sars/Glanmire club as they have been winning in both codes, which obviously helps morale, but will the dual exertions take its toll? Glanmire are playing again on Sunday and should they both win, the respective All-Ireland Finals are on successive days in Croke Park.
A good problem to have but surely the Camogie and Ladies Football Associations could sort this issue out. Na Fianna from Meath in a similar position, there are neither camogie nor ladies football games next weekend - could not one of the game been put back until then?
There is a lot of talk about integration between the 3 associations, but if the ladies organisations cannot arrange their fixtures in an appropriate manner it would appear to be a long way off.
The Sarsfields hurlers and the Glanmire footballers would not be scheduled for the same weekend, so why are the girls teams treated differently?
The Galway girls are bidding for their 4th title, and 3 in row with a very experienced side and at this level that might just give them the edge.
Niamh McGrath, Caoimhe Kelly, Siobhan McGrath, Maria Cooney, Shannon Corcoran and Sarah Spellman have been vital players throughout their current reign as champions.
Sars, the Cork version have been digging out results in their games to date all of which have gone to the wire; the county final against Seandun, and the semi-final and final wins in Munster backed this up, resilience was a big part in their wins.
This is of course is their first venture at this level. What they lack in experience they make up for in endeavour, with Eve Twomey, Niamh O’Callaghan, Kathlyn Sheehan, Hollie Herlihy, Claire Mullins, Lucy Allen and Orlaith Mullins all enjoying their current run and are in a rich vein of form.
Will that momentum be enough to get them over the line, hopefully it will, but it’s going to be a tough ask!
Concurrent.ie Ladies Football semi-finals
Intermediate Glenmire v Na Fianna (Meath) on Sunday in Mallow at 2pm
The dual player issue surfaces again for this game as the Sars will be in action for the 2nd day in a row, and the 2nd weekend it’s happened, but what about Na Fianna? They have a camogie semi-final in County Louth on Saturday also with 9 starters on both teams.
Na Fianna are backboned by several players that were part of the Meath team that won the All-Ireland Senior title so that gives them an edge in terms of experience.
Shauna Ennis is actually the Meath captain, Maire Kirby both are proven goal scorers, Kerrie Cole, Caroline Gallagher and Sophia Payne are others with the capacity to cause Glanmire problems.
The Cork and Munster champions came through a stern test in Ruislip last weekend, 2 point winners in the end with goalkeeper Ava Carey making a brilliant save late on.
Ellen Twomey, Abbie O’Mahony, Niamh Mc Allen, Eibhlis Dillon, Orlaith Roche and Michelle Dullea have big roles to play for Glanmire.
Na Fianna will probably start as favourites but the respective camogie games involving both clubs might shape the outcome, and with 9 players playing in both, the Meath girls are at a serious disadvantage.
In the Junior semi-final, following their comfortable win in Clydebank last weekend, O’Donovan Rossa will have home comforts on Saturday when the Wexford side Gusserane O’Rahillys with a 1.30pm start and will be strongly fancied to progress to the decider.
Last weekend it was 6 from 6 for Cork clubs, can this be replicated? Let’s hope so, best of luck to all.
County Junior B Finals
The last remaining county finals form part of a double-header in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday. At 2pm in hurling it’s Fermoy v Killeagh followed at 4pm by the football decider with Douglas v Goleen whose record in finals is not the best of late, they will be hoping to put that bad run behind them.