Hurling clubs take centre stage
With round 1 of the football championship done and dusted, it’s the Co-Op Superstores County Hurling championships that will dominate the weekend with some intriguing encounters across all 5 grades.
Premier Senior
Champions Sars bid to retain their title, something they have not done of late despite all their wins. They did win the league for the 4th year in a row and will certainly be among the favourites to once again left the Sean Óg Murphy Cup.
Group 1
Glen Rovers v Blackrock on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.30pm
Between them they have won this championship a lot over the years but it’s 10 years since the Glen’s last success while the ‘Rockies were triumphant in 2020 beating their age-old rivals in the decider.
Both had decent league campaigns and when they did meet, Blackrock won on a night when key players were absent.
Whenever the sides meet in championship there is very little between them and this one should be just as tight and the winners will be in a strong position to emerge from the group.
There are a lot of quality players; Alan Connolly, Robbie Cotter, the Cashmans and Gavin Connolly for the ‘Rockies, while a trio of Cork players in Rob and Eoin Downey and Micheál Mullins along with Patrick Horgan still scoring regularly, Dean Brosnan and Liam Coughlan feature for Glen Rovers.
Never easy to pick a winner but a nod to Glen to shade it.
Kanturk v Fr O’Neill’s on Saturday in Kilworth at 7pm
O’Neill’s survived a relegation play-off last year - a fate they will want to avoid this time round and Deccie Dalton and Ger Mellerick will be key for them, but there’s a wealth of experience in the Kanturk side, the Walshs and McLoughlins among them and that will tell.
Group 2
Sarsfields v Charleville on Saturday in Castletownroche at 7pm
A tricky enough opener for the champions against a side that will relish the opportunity to make life difficult as they always do - particularly if Darragh Fitzgibbon is on his game.
Sars though are not champions for nothing and with a 4th successive league title behind them, they are in good form going into this game.
Several of their more experienced players had limited game time in the league but will still be key as the championship evolves. Brian Murphy, Ben Graham, Conor O’Sullivan and Jack O’Connor will be keen to start with a win and they should.
Douglas v Newtownshandrum on Friday in Ballyhooly at 7.15pm
Yet another one of those games that is hard to call. Douglas had football last week and that might limit their preparation but they won and that will be a nice boost heading into this difficult encounter.
Shane Kingston and Alan Cadogan remain important players for the city side, while Newtown will look to Cormac O’Brien among others to get their campaign up and running and they might just get over the line.
Group 3
St Finbarrs v Midleton on Friday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7.15pm
Midleton were having an excellent run into the league final with 10 wins from 10 but will be disappointed that they did not win the league and how they respond to that loss to Sars will be interesting.
Conor Lehane is still key for them and if he is held, they might struggle for scores but in Brion Saunderson, Tommy O’Connell and Ross O’Regan, they have very good players and they were runners-up last year.
Paudie Murray is now guiding the fortunes of the ‘Barrs and like their footballers, the league campaign was affected with so many involved with Cork in both codes and they will be without Billy Hennessy and he was a big player for them over the years.
Brian Hayes, Alan O’Connor, Ethan Twomey, Ben Cunningham, William Buckley and the Cahalanes will anchor their challenge and while this one could go to the wire, Barr’s to win.
Bride Rovers v Newcestown on Saturday in Ballincollig at 7pm
Bride are back in the top tier after a few years and this is no an easy re-introduction as Newcestown are just a remarkable dual club as they showed last week by beating Nemo Rangers. They will see this as an ideal opportunity to keep that winning momentum going.
As ever, Luke Meade is a huge player for them with the Roche brothers and Cillian Tobin big players for the Rathcormac side and they enjoyed a very good league winning the D2 final comfortably over Erin’s Own.
For all that though, the nod to Newcestown to win.
Senior A
The prize for the winners of this very competitive championship is elevation to the top tier of Cork hurling, won last year by Bride Rovers and there is some quality teams bidding to emulate them and it’s hard to predict a winner.
Group 1
Blarney v Castlelyons on Saturday in Riverstown at 2pm
Both of these teams were beaten finalists recently - Castlelyons last year to Bride Rovers and they endured a tough league campaign but usually reserve their best for c’ship with Niall O’Leary a big player for them.
Blarney won their league title and with a trio of Cork players Mark Coleman, Shane Barrett and Padraig Power anchoring their team, they should win.
Watergrasshill v Ballyhea on Saturday at 7pm in Kildorrery
A 2nd year at this grade for the ‘Hill and they will be keen to make a winning start against a side that has made little impact in recent years but are doughty championship battlers but Sean Desmond and Daire O’Leary should help the ‘Hill to victory.
Group 2
Na Piarsaigh v Erin’s Own on Saturday in Páirc Uí Rinn at 5.45pm
The northside club had a difficult league campaign and were relegated to D3 with a lengthy injury list. They are facing an Erin’s Own side determined to bounce back after relegation last year, Robbie O’Flynn is a big player for them and they will be favoured to win.
Killeagh v Fermoy on Saturday in Lisgoold at 7pm
The East Cork side will this year be in a position to play a few key players who were prevented from playing last year by an age rule, including Cork senior Barry Walsh and that will be crucial as they bid to make a winning start.
Group 3
Carrigtwohill v Inniscarra on Saturday in Blarney at 2pm
Carrigtwohill had a very good campaign last year and will look to build on that, but this is by no means an easy opener and they will do well to get the win but they just might have enough to edge this one.
Ballinhassig v Courcey Rovers on Saturday in Kilbrittain at 7pm
A special night for Ballinhassig as they bid to build on last year’s win in the Premier Intermediate grade. They lost the league final to Blarney but with Darragh O’Sullivan and the Collins brother Ger and Patrick leading their challenge, they should win this one even with it being a local derby.
Premier Intermediate
This grade has produced some thrilling games over the year with a lot of quality teams involved and this year’s version promises just as much drama and excitement.
Group 1
There’s a Mid-Cork feel to this group with Bishopstown being the odd club out and they face a tough opener against Ballincollig who have some very good players, while the ‘Town’s more experienced lads are no longer involved. They have slipped down the grades in recent years and will be hard pressed to win this one.
Éire Óg and Aghabullogue meet in the 2nd game and the latter have really mastered the art of being a dual club, won titles in both hurling and football last year and should make a winning start.
Group 2
An all-East Cork group which should make for some lively local derbies; Cloyne and Dungourney met in the D5 league final which Cloyne won and they will be confident of repeating that result on Sunday evening in Midleton.
Castlemartyr face Lisgoold and here the absence of Ciarán Joyce will impact on Castlemartyr’s ambition and give the opposition a boost.
Group 3
A local derby to open with between Carrigaline and Valley Rovers. Both had good wins in football last weekend, so maybe a draw here.
The 3rd Carrigdhoun team in this group Ballymartle face a Kilworth side buoyed by winning the D4 league title and should start with a win.
Intermediate A
Group 1
Aghada and Bandon both had football last week and the West Cork side reached last year’s final - they should make a winning start.
Kibrittain v Russell Rovers - a big day for Kilbrittain but this is a tough one and the Rovers should prevail.
Group 2
Midleton v Mallow: how the seniors fare will influence Midleton but with depth and quality they will be expected to win.
Kildorrery v Blackrock: like Midleton the 15 they pick in the senior game will dictate the ‘Rockies starting line up which might see Kildorrery get the win.
Group 3
Erin’s Own v Sarsfields: the latter with an abundance of players won their league and should make a winning start here.
Youghal v Ballygiblin: a tough league for the East Cork side with just 1 win, and it’s hard to see them turning that around.
Premier Junior
Kilbrittain won this championship last year and subsequently were crowned Munster and All-Ireland champions which is a huge incentive for all the participants with the exception of clubs’ 2nd teams like St Finbarrs and Glen Rovers who actually lost to Kilbrittain in the final.
Group 1
Ballygarvan v Glen Rovers: Glen Rovers’ team selection won’t be determined until after the senior game on Saturday but they still should win this one.
Kilshannig v Nemo Rangers: both had football last week but momentum might just favour the North Cork side coming up as last year’s junior champions.
Group 2
Cloughduv v St Catherines: an interesting contest here with a slight fancy for St Catherine’s.
Milford v Tracton: the latter were relegated from D5 in the league while Milford finished 4th and that would suggest they should win.
Group 3
Mayfield v Argideen Rangers: both met in the league, a game Argideen won by a point and Mayfield were subsequently relegated but they are well capable of reversing that result. Like Glen Rovers, the ‘Barrs starting 15 will be shaped by their seniors and that gives Barryroe the edge.
It’s an exciting opening round of matches ahead and best of luck to all teams, club hosting games and to referees and officials and as usual coverage from lots of venues across the weekend on C103 and 96FM.