Ballinora Ivelary match the pick of the weekend bunch

THERE are both championship and league games arranged for the week ahead in Muskerry with the most interesting fixture being in hurling.

The Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final involving Ballinora and Iveleary is down for decision at Annahala on Saturday evening with the former firm favourites to advance.

Ballinora are at this stage looked on as the side most likely to end the reign of Cloughduv as divisional champions so last season’s Junior (B) Hurling Champions Iveleary could find the going hard at Kilmichael’s head quarters, but they could be capable of giving a good account of themselves.

They were worthy winners of Muskerry’s Junior (B) Hurling Championship in 2015 and in their championship outings to date this season their displays have been reasonable.

In their first round outing Iveleary faced reigning champions Cloughduv and they stayed very much in contention in the opening moiety. The title holders as expected got on top following the break but Iveleary’s display was creditable.

They consequently faced their second chance outing with confidence and in same they deservedly overcame. The challenge of Gleann Na Laoi: they are likely to give next Saturday’s encounter with Ballinora their best shot despite entering the fray as underdogs.

Players like Darren Kelly, Daniel O’Riordan, Dave Dineen, Ciarán O’Riordan, Finbarr McSweeney and Barry O’Leary will be to the forefront in an effort to cause an upset. Ballinora have formidable hurlers in their ranks however in Alan O’Shea, Conor Brosnan, Pat Fitton, Michael Murphy, David Howard and Darragh Holmes and it is expected that they will have too much strength in depth for their opponents.