Rockchapel and Millstreet chase final spot

THE County Intermediate Football Championship is provided with a major boost this weekend on two highly attractive semi finals.

Rockchapel meet Millstreet in the all Duhallow clash in Knocknagree and the stakes couldn’t be higher for the winner will progress into a county decider against the winners to the Saturday contest between Bandon or Cill na Martra.

Bragging rights will be determined at Knocknagree on Sunday (2.30pm throw-in), the clash revives memories of a meeting in the 2013 Duhallow JAFC Final where Rockchapel bettered Millstreet to end an eleven year wait to claim back the divisional silverware. At key segments particularly in the closing quarter, Rockchapel operated with a passion and desire.

And with the game up for grabs at a key stage, the greater experience of Rockchapel surfaced, crucially displaying admirable resolve and commitment to pull out a little bit extra to record a four point triumph that proved instrumental to progressing to add county silverware.

It proved a learning experience for a battling Millstreet side who repeated the success twelve months later to collect divisional and county honours.

From this campaign, Rockchapel have enjoyed a winning sequence to overcome Youghal, Glanworth and Aghabullogue in a semi final. Against the Mid Cork side, the 2014 finalists emerged the more probable winners because of the manner they controlled possession and displaying the greater desire for victory. Though operating against the breeze in the opening half, a committed Rockchapel enjoyed a four point cushion and while Aghabullogue improved, the winners held enough craft to pounce from goals netted by substitute Jason O’Callaghan and Ian Guiney to progress to return to a familiar semi final stage.

Millstreet are guided by former Rockchapel coach Seamus Cooper who made their own statement to overcome Aghabullogue and Ballydesmond in the early rounds. Into a semi final against St. Finbarrs, Millstreet dug themselves of a tight situation to overcome a gritty and wasteful St. Finbarrs by a two point margin.

By virtue of more economic shooting from Tadgh Collins and Kevin Crowley, on the balance of play, Millstreet just about deserved to come through from a close contest.

Both Millstreet and Rockchapel have reached championship football in October on merit. Semi final games can go either way but on the basis of being more experienced on contesting their third semi final in four years, the tendency is to opt for the balance of Rockchapel to succeed.

However, injuries and performances hindered by full fitness may impact on the two sides on duty thus the unpredictability of the outcome.