Clongeen and Fintan’s first up in Junior A

WITH JUST three first teams competing in the Permanent TSB Junior ‘A’ hurling championship, it means that only one match can go ahead this coming weekend as the domestic games programme begins with a bang.

Fortunately, two of those clubs - Clongeen and St. Fintan’s - have been included together in Group A, meaning they can lock horns in the former’s Fr. Wheeler Memorial Park venue in Ballybore on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Second and third teams cannot play in the championship until their ‘firsts’ have fielded, so it won’t be possible to have four Junior ‘A’ fixtures until the second weekend.

Eddie Moloney of Our Lady’s Island fame is back training Clongeen for another term, and their backroom team is completed by Denis Rochford, Seán Murphy and James Purcell.

St. Fintan’s will be welcoming two of last year’s promising Minors, Jack O’Leary and Liam Crowley, to adult ranks for the first time, and the team is prepared by Shane Sinnott (manager), Conor Berry (trainer) and Dave Kelleher (selector).

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown - under the guidance of Tommy Young (manager), David Cooney and Colin Carney - have a bye in Group A this weekend.

The only other first team in Junior ‘A’, Kilmore, are in Group D along with Naomh Eanna and Adamstown.

Conor Moore and Stevie Cousins have recovered from long-term injuries for the seasiders who are looked after by Mark Roche (manager/coach), Johnny Berry and Kevin Keating.

Eddie Dillon (manager) and Jake Doyle are at the helm with Adamstown, while the Naomh Eanna management team comprises Niall Kirwan, Michael Bernie and Darren Kelly.

The first Group B game, on July 25, will pit Buffers Alley against Tara Rocks in Monamolin, while Rathnure have a bye.

Anthony Kelly (manager), Will Walsh and Paudie Reidy form the Alley’s backroom crew, with Shane Tobin and John Broughan guiding Tara Rocks.

July 26 will mark the start of Group C, when an Oylegate-Glenbrien side prepared by Seán Quirke, Tony Moulton, Keith Whelan and Seamus Heffernan will host Cloughbawn, whose mentors are Eoin Doyle (manager), Barry Carton, Martin Kehoe and James O’Neill.

Oulart-The Ballagh, who have a bye, will be mentored by Paul Hayes (manager), Dermot Byrne, Damien Harris, Jason Quigley and Henry Quigley.

Just one Junior ‘B’ hurling championship game is on the schedule for this first weekend, with St. Martin’s Purple hosting Shelmaliers in Piercestown on Sunday at 6 p.m.

John Codd, Pat Barrett and Arthur O’Connor are over the Martin’s ‘thirds’, and a fourth team from the club will also be competing under the ‘White’ banner.

Darren Shiggins (manager) and selector Ibar Murphy Snr. will be hoping the Shels can get off to a winning start.