Munster finals and All-Ireland SFs on the card
It may very well be the last weekend in November but there is no let up with games at local, provincial and national level across all codes.
AIB Munster Junior Hurling Final
Kilbrittain v Kilrossanty at Mallow on Saturday at 1pm
“Absolutely thrilled to be training on a cold November night looking forward to a Munster Final - it’s great for the club and the area in general who have really got behind all season,” said Kilbrittain manager Joe Ryan on Saturday’s final.
Going in as champions is also important as Joe explains. “Had we lost the county final to Glen Rovers, we would still have been in the Munster Championship, but having won it was much easier to go back training and this is our first appearance in a Munster final and a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“We got a tough game from Knockaderry away from home and now the focus is on a very good Kilrossanty team.”
The Waterford champions were also in last year’s final losing to Russell Rovers and that experience will help according to Joe. “It probably does but finals are one offs and we are happy with our preparation and really looking forward to Saturday.”
For Kilbrittain captain Philip Wall, it will be a special and strange day, with his sister Kate in Ashbourne with the ‘Barrs’ camogie team in their All-Ireland semi-final - a divided house.“A bit,” as he explains: “I’m not sure what’s going to happen; mam going to camogie and dad to the hurling I suppose but whatever let’s hope it’s a double win.”
Philip is looking forward to the final but knows they face a tough test. “They have won 2 games in this championship and were impressive and in the Fitzgerald brothers they have very good players and that’s just naming a few.”
While the Fitzgerald brothers are key for the Deise lads - Padraig got 2-8 in the semi-final - others like Martin Dunne, Riain Hogan, Sean Veale and Alan Dunwoody are top class players at this level.
With Sean Sexton, unerring marksman Mark Hickey 0-12 in the win over Knockaderry, Bertie Butler, David Desmond, James Hurley and Eoin O’Neill in their side, it will take a big effort from Kilrossanty to deny them.One other omen; in last year’s final, Russell Rovers who won were sporting the very same colours as Kilbrittain - black and amber - can history repeat itself? Let’s hope so.
The match is live on C103.
Co-Op Superstores Junior A Hurling Final
Kilshannig v Ballinora at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday at 1.30pm
Ballinora having won the intermediate football title a few weeks ago are back on familiar ground for this decider against a Kilshannig side more renowned for their football endeavours.
They did win a very competitive Avondhu championship and impressed in seeing off a highly rated Newmarket side in the semi-final in a very tight contest.
Kilshannig were defeated in the 2022 final by Erin’s Own and the desire to get into a higher grade for the coming season is the fuel driving this group.
There is a lot of experience in their side with the likes of Eanna O’Hanlon, Paddy Walsh (0-8) in the semi-final, Colm O’Shea, Killian O’Hanlon, Bill Curtin and Kieran Twomey.
Ballinora have dominated the Muskerry championship in recent years, 6 in a row is some feat but without achieving the ultimate goal, a county title, will that hinder them or drive them on for Sunday?
You would expect it to be the latter, and having won a football county, they know how to get over the line.
They survived a tough test in their semi-final from Cobh, but given that they had been in football action for the previous few weeks, a slow start was inevitable but their tally of 0-21 is impressive shooting and with an extra weeks hurling under their belts expect further improvement.
Dual players, just like Kilshannig are key, Neil Lordan, Ben Mayer (0-11) last Sunday, Shane Kingston, Danny Dineen, Alan O’Shea and Jack Hegarty among them.
Two fairly evenly matched teams which should produce an intriguing contest and a slight fancy for Ballinora to prevail.
The match is live on C103.
McCarthy Insurance Group Junior A Football Final
Donoughmore v Kilmacabea at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday at 3.30pm
Another interesting encounter in prospect here between two fairly evenly matched teams although there is a view that Donoughmore carry a bit more of a threat.
It’s a team built on recent success at underage level. They won back to back Premier Minor 2 championships and still in the Under 21 B Championship.
For all that they looked dead and buried in the Muskerry final where a late rally against Aghinagh swung the game their way.
In the semi-final last week, they were comfortable winners over Nemo Rangers admittedly the city champion’s 3rd team, but anytime you score 3-19 you will be pleased.
By contrast Klmacabea survived a tough test from Charleville and maybe that close game will work to their advantage.
Damien Gore who has featured with the Cork seniors in the past was in top form for the West Cork lads and got good support from Ian Jennings, Daniel O’Donovan, Diarmuid O’Callaghan and Eamonn Shanahan.
Scott Barrett got 2-1 for Donoughmore in the win over Nemo with Sean O’Hanlon, David McDonnell, Daniel Holland and Gavin O’Sullivan all making important contributions - interestingly their first half tally of 2-12 all came from play.
Their capacity to kick 2 pointers has also been a feature of their campaign to date.
Donoughmore are favourites and they very well justify that tag.
This game is also live on C103.
Camogie
It’s a quick turnaround for the Cork and Munster champions St Finbarr’s and Ballincollig as they are both on the road for their respective All-Ireland semi-finals.
The ‘Barrs head to Ashbourne in county Meath and a meeting with the Ulster champions Loughgiel Shamrocks Saturday at 2pm.
It’s a first for the ‘Barrs but Loughgiel have been down this road before and that might give them a slight edge.
‘Barrs though showed wonderful spirit and determination in winning the Munster Final last weekend and in Meabh Cahalane and Stephanie Punch, they have excellent defenders while in attack Kate Wall was outstanding finishing with 2-4.
Orlaith Cahalane got a brilliant goal and set up Wall for her 2nd while the free taking of Sorcha McCartan was top class.
They will want to avoid a slow start like they had in the Munster Final but the resolve they displayed might get them over the line and set up a Croke Park date.
Dicksboro from Kilkenny and the Galway champions Athenry meet in the 2nd semi-final.
Also my apologies to the Sars camogie team whom I omitted last week in my reference to Cork clubs winning the Munster Championship - they were of course champions 2 years ago.
Ballincollig also face Ulster opposition Eglish from Tyrone in their semi-final and buoyed by their excellent win in the Munster decider, they could win this one especially if Leah Hannigan, Ana Hartnett, Ciara O’Sullivan, Aoife Cotter and the experienced Leah Weste can reproduce the form that saw them overcome a strong Moycarky-Borris challenge in the Munster Final.
O’Connor Park Tullamore on Sunday at 1pm is the venue for this game.
The Camogie Club All-Ireland Finals are scheduled for Croke Park on Sunday 14 December.
Ladies football
Another Cork club are on the road this weekend and it’s a long one when Naomh Abán head to Cavan, Knockbride to be exact for the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final on Sunday at 1pm and playing on their home patch will give the Ulster champions a huge advantage.
The Ballyvourney girls though had a very good campaign and winning two tough games in Munster will help.
In the semi-final they got the better Moycarkey-Borris by 6 points and backed that up by defeating the Kerry champions Clounmacon/Moyvane 2-11 to 2-8 in a cracking final that went to extra-time.
Grace Murphy the LGFA November Player of the Month is a key player for them with Colleen Phelan, Lydia McDonagh, Annie Maher, Lauren Hughes and Roisin Lehane 1-6 in the final all quality players.
Tough ask given the logistics involved but one they are well capable of winning.
Under 21 A Hurling QFs
There’s a Saturday afternoon double-header on the 4G in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in a championship that always delivers irrespective of the time it’s played.
In the opener at 1pm, champions Midleton had a tough battle with Bride Rovers in the East Cork final while Ballincollig got the better of Inniscarra and the champions should win this one.
Glen Rovers play Valley Rovers at 3pm and having demolished Blackrock in the City Final, Glen will enter this game as favourites and with senior players Jake Brosnan, Eoin Varian, Diarmuid Wall, Stephen Lynam and Eoin O’Leary leading their challenge, they should win.
Junior B finals
There’s a Páirc Uí Rinn double header on Saturday in the Junior B finals. At 2pm in football, it’s Carrigaline v Ballyphehane and the hurling decider at 4pm features Dungourney v Newtownshandrum.