Milford backed to defeat Fr O’Neills
COUNTY IHC
Milford v Fr O’Neills
Saturday May 23 Ballyhooley 7pm
MILFORD reached the quarter finals two years ago, but they were well beaten by Fermoy at that stage, and they registered just one victory in three outings last year.
While they wouldn’t be regarded as serious contenders for ultimate glory in the campaign ahead, however, they have the potential to put it up to most teams on their best form. They certainly won’t be intimidated by the task of taking on Fr O’Neills, who shipped three heavy defeats from Aghada, Kildorrery and Fermoy in 2014.
True, the East-Cork side took title-winners Fermoy to a replay, but they were outgunned for much of that quarter final tie as well before staging a remarkable comeback in the last quarter.
Given that Milford pushed Kildorrery all the way in Round 4 last year, they will be inclined to fancy their chances of getting the job done against Fr O’Neill’s, all the more so if such as Seanie O’Connell, Eoin Dillon, Paddy O’Regan, Anthony Watson and Henry O’Gorman put their best foot forward on the day.
Verdict: Milford
Kildorrery v Castlemartyr
Sunday May 24
Rathcormack 3.30pm
NOW in their third season operating at intermediate level, Kildorrery will be hoping to build on the experience gained in the last two campaigns, as they attempt to make a bold bid for the title this year.
It would be fair to say they haven’t done themselves justice since lifting the county junior crown in 2012, although they did perform most encouragingly in the opening round against Fermoy last year, going under by 1-18 to 0-18 in a cracker.
They followed up with victories over Fr O’Neill’s and Milford, but they succumbed by a point in the quarter final against 2013 junior kingpins Grenagh, who proved no match for Fermoy in the semi-final.
Castlemartyr, with the Lawton brothers Brian and Barry providing
much of the inspiration, went all the way in junior ranks last year, but the likelihood is they will be hard-pressed to make a winning debut in the intermediate grade against what looks a better-balanced Kildorrery side on paper.
Peter O’Brien, Michael Walsh, Shane Fitzgerald, Andrew O’Brien, Richard McEniry and Finbar Stapleton will be expected to play leading roles for the North-Cork outfit.
Verdict: Kildorrery
Charleville v Argideen Rangers
Sunday May 24 Coachford 2pm
THERE is no denying that Charleville have been knocking hard on the door since emerging from junior ranks in 2011, making it easy to appreciate why they are the ante-post favourites to collect the intermediate crown this year.
Their ambitions were thwarted in 2012 and 2013 by a Kanturk side that filled the runners-up slot three years ago and went one better twelve months later.
Having qualified for the showpiece themselves last year, when they endured an agonising defeat at Fermoy’s hands, Charleville will be hoping to display similar resilience and emulate Kanturk’s achievement in the campaign ahead.
They won’t need to be told, however, that the road to the top is laden with pitfalls, and they will have every reason to tread warily against Argideen Rangers on Sunday, bearing in mind that they had just a point to spare over the Timoleague men, 2-15 to 3-11, in a first round game in 2013.
It would be a big surprise at the same time if Charleville are prevented from taking the direct route to Round 4 for the fourth year on the trot, and they will certainly be hard to stop if such key players as Andrew Cagney, Danny O’Flynn, Alan Dennehy, James O’Brien and Darren Casey are on song.
Verdict: Charleville
COUNTY IFC
Mitchelstown v Adrigole
Saturday, May 23 Kilmurry 7pm
IN their first season up from junior ranks, Mitchelstown, under to stewardship of Billy Morgan, enjoyed a good run last year before finding warm favourites and eventual title-winners Éire Óg a bit too hot to handle in the quarter-final.
Adrigole were also soundly thrashed by Éire Óg in Round 4 last year, so Mitchelstown will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways on Saturday night, having lost their opening game by a point against Aghabullogue – a team that they eliminated from the championship in 2014.
As with the vast majority of games in this grade, it should be a very close contest against Adrigole, who fell to Glanworth, 1-9 to 0-11, in Round 1, but Mitchelstown might have what it takes to get over the line providing their marquee players like Shane Beston, Shane Cahill, Stephen Fox and Dave Dineen perform to their potential
Verdict: Mitchelstown