U-21 Championship gets Muskerry season up and running

THE excitement will commence in earnest in Muskerry this weekend as there are games down for decision in all three grades of the Under 21 Football Championship and very entertaining fare is anticipated.

The reigning champions at Under 21 ‘A’ level Ballincollig will travel to Ovens on Friday evening to play the home side Eire Óg who appear to have a side strong enough to pose problems for the holders. Chris Kelly, John Mullins, John Cooper and Colm O’Connell are significant figures in the Eire Óg line out and they will be to the forefront of the effort at gaining a victory over their neighbours.

Ballincollig have a number of players in their ranks however with inter-county experience and some players have also participated at Senior Football Championship level so they enter the fray as favourites.

Peter O’Neill, Cian Kiely, Luke Fahy, Gearoid O’Donoghue and Eoin O’Reilly will be big guns in the Ballincollig line out and they should commence their Under-21 Football Championship campaign with a victory.

The two additional first round games in the Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship are arranged for Saturday afternoon and last season’s ‘B’ champions Aghabullogue will have home advantage for their encounter with Macroom. The former had some reluctance to move to the top grade but they were impressive victors in last season’s ‘B’ championship and they should give a good account of themselves on Saturday.

The third game in the ‘A’ Championship will see Inniscarra and Kilmurry in action at Ballyanly and this game should produce a good hours play with both sides having excellent footballers in their ranks. There will be particular interest in Inniscarra’s form as this season, for the first time ever they are entering a second Under 21 Football team. The side representing them on Saturday next should consequently be formidable.

Their opponents Kilmurry have some talented players at this level in Football however and a very good contest appears to be in the offing. For all the teams participating over the weekend, defeat will not. Signal their elimination from the competition as all three Under 21 Football Championship will operate on a round Robin Basis.