FiFinalsl feverf hhas hihit Duhallow with three titles down for decision
FOOTBALL and hurling fever is gripping Duhallow this weekend with two showpiece GAA finals down for decision.
Near neighbours Cullen and Knocknagree clash in a novel Kanturk Credit Union Junior A Football Championship Final in Rockchapel on Saturday evening at 6.30pm. It’s a first time meeting between the pair, which have many close connections. Indeed, the divide will see families split and tears of joy and disappointment could both be shed in the same house, no matter which captain lifts the prize.
Ahead of Saturday’s meeting, Cullen and Knocknagree villages are heaving with bunting and flags.
Cullen hold six titles to their credit, the first landed in 1936 and the previous outright win recorded in 2008 over Boherbue following a replay. Opponents Knocknagree are the defending champions, having bridged a 24 year gap last season to collect their 11th outright title.
Meanwhile, the stakes are high for Kilbrin and Banteer in their rendezvous for the Kanturk Co Op Mart Duhallow Junior A Hurling Final in Sunday’s encounter at Castlemagner with a 6.30pm start. No strangers to competitive fare, Kilbrin have dominated meetings between the pair, winning all five finals since their initial pairing in a decider in 1989.
Both Kilbrin and Banteer bring a wealth of big time experience as well as consistently good form to their respective bids to bring the John Joe Brosnan Memorial Cup to a new home after Castlemagner landed the honours last season.
The curtain raiser in Castlemagner on Sunday is the novel meeting of St. John’s and Newmarket in the Junior B Football Championship Final at 4.30pm.
Duhallow Junior Board Chairman Joe Kearns extends best wishes to all sides and anticipates an abundance of skill and determination from six teams seeking out the prestigious accolades.
“Traditionally, the championships are the showpiece of the season within the Duhallow sporting calendar - we’re set for enthralling confrontations between the participating teams,” he said.