Intriguing clashes emerge from Duhallow championship draws
THE battle lines were drawn for both the 2017 Kanturk Mart Co-Op Duhallow Junior A Hurling and E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Junior A Football Championships following their formal launch in Kanturk on Monday night.
A full representation of clubs confirmed the view every championship is another new opportunity. All concerned with teams are dwelling this weekend on optimistic hopes of landing the ultimate championship prize.
And a series of appealing games are in the offering in both hurling and football grades over the months ahead. Though the sting of a championship loss in the opening round is offset by a second opportunity, all the indications are teams will be striving to take the direct route and win at the first available chance.
With defending JAHC kingpins Kilbrin receiving a bye, the pick of the crop from the opening round may well be the clash of newcomers Dromtariffe and Castlemagner in the first pairing drawn out. Both sides have prospered from gaining silverware at Co. Junior B level, Castlemagner breaking a 55 year drought to land a divisional JAHC title in 2015.
Meanwhile, Dromtariffe can take satisfaction from securing a Co. JBHC title last autumn followed by their first divisional U21AHC title. Both Dromtariffe and Castlemagner will feel its well within their capabilities to win this opener and their respective league form will be monitored over the next few weeks.
With nine teams involved and Kilbrin looking on, all the opening round games look pretty open, Tullylease tackle last season runners up Banteer. Elsewhere another game to whet the appetite involves the clash of Freemount and Millstreet.
Meanwhile, Newmarket attempt to build from two league titles in three years seek a positive return from a clash against Kanturk’s second string. When the sides clashed last season at the same stage, just two points separated the teams at the break before Newmarket proceeded to hold the greater firepower and the better attacking combination to probe out an assortment of scores.
The E Tarrant & Sons Skoda JAFC is traditionally fought with great intensity. All seven teams involved this season harbour aspirations yet reigning holders Knocknagree have emerged to the fore on collecting back to back titles.
Knocknagree embark on another trail, seeking a three in a row for the first time since 1991 with a contest against Castlemagner, a game brimful of potential.
2016 runners up Cullen came up short after a solid challenge look ahead to a tricky assignment against Kanturk. Meanwhile Boherbue and Lyre will be bent on restoring the old order, both sides failing to deliver on potential over recent years.
When the sides clashed in the 2016 Ducon Cup Final, Boherbue snatched a late victory to complete a hat trick of outright league titles.. However championship accolades have eluded Boherbue since 1988.
Much the same fate for Dromtariffe who head the roll of honour though its 2005 since their last outright title. 2017 sees Dromtariffe receive a bye, taking on a defeated 1st round side to begin their campaign.