CORKMANC DUHALLOW UU21 C’SHIPS
The Corkman has teamed up with the Duhallow GAA board to sponsor the division’s Under 21 football and hurling championships just as the football reaches its most exciting stage.
Weather permitting two semi-finals of The Corkman U-21 A Football Championship sets up appealing encounters this Saturday.
To date, the campaign has roused terrific interest and potentially, some great football lays in store, not least the clash of Knocknagree and Robert Emmets.
First time out, Knocknagree finished strongly to get the better of Kanturk, a balanced outfit gathered a positive return from possession. Crucially Knocknagree found reserves of energy, the play of Andrew Sheehan, Paul O’Connor, Patrick Doyle, Seán Twomey and Eoghan McSweeney strong and committed.
In a welter of excitement, Knocknagree made the decisive break deep into injury time, substitute Seán O’Connor placed McSweeney to point the winner.
For their part, Emmets put together a battling show only to come up short to Boherbue after extra time the opening round. After a hesitant start, Emmets powered into their stride under the guidance of Jamie Hayes, Jason Sheehan, Jack Guiney and Conor O’Keeffe.
However the Newmarket and Lismire combination failed to sustain their momentum in extra time.
Availing of the back door, Emmets will attempt to make the most of the opportunity , expect them to have a right go yet Knocknagree possess a balanced side and though concerned with injuries, they are capable of making a return to another decider.
Boherbue encounter Millstreet in the second semi final, scheduled for Knocknagree. Defending holders Boherbue got the measure of Robert Emmets though requiring extra time to do so. The victors prominence sprang from the slick football paraded by Brian Murphy, Jerry O’Sullivan, Stephen Ahern, Adrian Murphy and Bryan Herlihy to sway the outcome in the additional 20 minutes.
For their part, Millstreet will be handicapped on reaching this stage without a competitive game.
Keen to deliver a promising showing, they will be spearhead by the encouragement of Cathal Crowley, Danny Buckley, Darren Kiely, Tomas Sheehan and the Hickey brothers.
Both sides hold exciting pedigree and if the pair play up to potential, it will make for an outstanding tussle. However by virtue of an outing already in the campaign, Boherbue appear to possess the more formidable combination to enter the fray as favourites and Millstreet will need to at their best in a bid to reach the decider.
St. Peters and Lyre come head to head in the U21BFC, again an improvement in the weather key to the fixture going ahead.