Time for county football champions to be crowned!
The postponement of 2 big hurling finals last weekend has meant a re-scheduling of some games and for the first time this season hurling and football championship games go ahead on the same weekend.
The focus though is very much on football with 3 deciders in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with 1 hurling final also down for decision and all are live on C103.
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football
St Finbarrs v Nemo Rangers on Sunday at 3.30pm
This will be the 30th meeting of these southside rivals in championship and as it stands Nemo hold the upper hand with 19 wins; there has been 3 draws and 7 wins for the Barrs, while they have yet to beat their neighbours in a final, and on the other hand Nemo have never lost 3 finals in a row.
So which one of these stats will be still standing come 5pm on Sunday?
Nemo manager Robbie O’Dwyer reflected on the semi-final win over Newcestown after extra-time. “It was a real battle and we were being told we would win easy, but we knew they (Newcestown) are a very good team - they gave us a real tough game in the group stages last year.”
The win and the manner in which it was achieved will stand to them in Robbie’s opinion. “I think it will; we had no game for 4 weeks having gone direct to the semi-final and we showed good maturity to get the job done especially after a poor start to the 2nd half.”
Robbie is also well aware improvement will be needed on Sunday, “Any team that puts 6 goals past the champions will punish you if you are not at the top of your game and the ‘Barrs have been very impressive all season.”
Jimmy Barry Murphy in his 2nd year as a ‘Barrs selector expressed similar views about the rivalry. “It’s one of the best in Cork football and has been for a long time and we are looking forward to it, but as we only know too well out here in Togher, Nemo are an incredible club and their record in finals speaks for itself.”
Jimmy is pleased with their preparation. “The two week run into the final is a help, obviously we would have much preferred to have won the hurling game, but we didn’t and now we have had a clear run.”
The games coming thick and fast made it hard for the dual players. “It did but we are a dual club and always have been and how you manage the workload is a factor but the lads have been brilliant all year and hopefully they can get their reward on Sunday.”
For Brian Hayes injuries and dual commitments have meant a long season but he is not complaining. “It’s tough going but once you get back into with your club, you’re relishing every game and no better than a county final.”
Having missed a few games in both codes it was a frustrating period with injuries. “All you want to do is play, but thankfully they're all behind me now.”
One area that Brian had to adjust to was the new rules and not having played in the league, he had to quickly get up to speed. “My 1st time playing them was the championship against Clonaklity but the lads were great and certainly they have improved the game for everyone.”
Nemo Rangers forward Conor Horgan - going for his 6th medal - is a big fan of the rules. “Brilliant especially as a forward, the 3 up is the best one and we can all see how much the game as a spectacle has improved.”
Familiar opponents on Sunday, “yeah, we all know one another even as schoolmates but that will be put to one side for an hour.”
The drive and ambition as strong as ever. “You never get tired of training at this time of the year, but look it’s Barrs v Nemo and that’s what keeps you motivated.”
They had contrasting semi-finals with Nemo going to extra-time, while Barrs eased to victory over Ballincollig after a poor 1st half, probably as a result of the hurling game the week before.
Key battles include midfield with Ian Maguire against Alan O’Donovan; whoever edges this one could shape the outcome.
Steven Sherlock and Mark Cronin are two players at the top of their game, Sherlock’s 1-9 in the semi-final was almost matched by Cronin (0-9), marking these guys will be a testing hour for any defender.
There’s quality on both sides: Kevin O’Donovan, Kieran Histon, Kevin Fulignati, Brian Hayes and possibly Paul Kerrigan off the bench will as they always do anchor the Nemo challenge.
Billy Hennessey, William Buckley, Ethan Twomey, Sam Ryan and Dylan Quinn are impressing while both have top class custodians in Micheál Aodh Martin and Darragh Newman.
When they last met in the final Barrs were favoured and going for the double and Nemo spoiled the party.
Barrs are favourites again and this time they might justify that tag, simply because they have a bit more depth in their squad and that could be enough to get them over the line.
So it’s the ‘Barrs to win, but Nemo have proved us wrong before.
McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Final
Knocknagree v Cill Na Martra on Sunday at 1.30pm
A repeat of the group game that after an epic encounter ended all square and the expectation that this final will be just as tight.
Both have suffered the heartbreak of finals defeat and that will give them extra motivation and the desire to reach the top grade in Cork football also a priority.
Their respective semi-finals were one sided affairs as Mid-Cork opposition were easily dispatched in clinical fashion. Knocknagree were 2-19 to 1-10 winners over Ballingeary, to make it a 3rd final appearance in 4 years.
Eoghan McSweeney, Patrick Doyle, Anthony O’Connor, Niall O’Connor, Daniel O’Mahony and Michael McSweeney have backboned this team since they came to prominence rising from junior ranks and the hurt of the last few years keeps driving them on, as does coach John Fintan Daly.
Cill Na Martra defeated their neighbours Éire Óg far more comfortably then the winning margin of 1-17 to 1-13 would suggest, a few late scores improving the look on the scoreboard.
The Gaeltacht side have emulated their opponents by their impressive march to the final and have been consistent performers at this level and the spine of the team has altered little in recent years.
Tadgh Ó Corcora, Sean Ó Foirreidh, Anton Ó Cuana, Jason Mac Carthaigh and the Ó Duinnins Danno and Shane are all key players.
Both like to play open attacking football and it has the makings of an intriguing encounter that is hard to call. Could it take another day to resolve? Given the complications involved, that is the last outcome the County Board would want!
Picking a winner is not easy, but a slight fancy for Knocknagree to finally reach the summit that has eluded them so often.
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football Final
St Nick’s v Buttevant on Saturday at 4.30pm
Around this time last year, St Nick’s were playing St James in a relegation play-off which they won, while Buttevant were semi-finalists in this championship, beating Nick’s comfortably in the group stages, before losing to eventual winners Kilmurry.
So a level of consistency by the North Cork side and a huge improvement by the city side.
In fact to date they have only lost 2 games all season, and one of them was the D6 league final to Canovee, but by then they had secured promotion and also reversed that result in the championship, which ensured they - like Buttevant - went direct to the semi-final.
At the outset of this championship the general view was the winners would come from either Canovee or Buttevant - one of them are still standing.
Buttevant were comfortable winners over Canovee in the semi-final scoring 2-16 all from play, with Mark Linehan hitting a few quality 2 pointers and the O’Hanlon brothers David and Conor effective in attack with Michael O’Neill, Michael Walsh and Seamus Madigan also impressing.
St Nick’s started their championship with a high scoring draw against Ballydesmond but their 7 point win over Canovee set them up for a semi-final spot which they got with a comfortable win in difficult conditions over Urhan.
For long periods of the semi-final, they were behind against Cobh but the impact off the bench which saw Dean Brosnan, Jamie Corkery and Zack Lynch all score 2 pointers got them the win.
They have yet to concede a goal and have a well drilled defence fronting goalkeeper Ross Cronin, with Sean Horgan, Robert Downey and Eoghan Varian included.
Jack O’Sullivan, Danny Morris, Eoin O’Leary and Gavin Marshall have all made important contributions.
Buttevant are favourites, but Nick’s have shown enough in this championship to suggest they are well capable of upsetting the odds and they will.
Hurling
The Co-Op Superstores Senior A Final Bride Rovers and Castlelyons goes ahead in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday at 6.30pm. While the postponement was probably the right call, it will be interesting to see which of these teams will have managed the extra week better.
Ladies football
There are three 3 Cork teams in AIB Munster Club Championship semi-finals over the weekend. Senior A champions Éire Óg were knocked out last week.
Glanmire will play Na Gaeil from Kerry in the Senior B grade on Sunday in Sallybrook at 2pm, while at 3pm in the Intermediate Championship, Naomh Abán make the trip to Littleton for a meeting with Moycarkey-Borris.
Dohenys welcome Kerry champions Cromane to Dunmanway on Saturday for the Junior semi-final at 2pm.
Camogie
For the first time ever, Ireland and Scotland will play a camogie/shinty International in Inverness on Saturday at 2pm. Cork’s Saoirse McCarthy will captain the Ireland team and is joined on the squad by Ashling Thompson, while Ger Manley is a member of the management team.
Best of luck to all 3 on this historic occasion.