Mallow to have enough for Rangers
COUNTY PIFC Mallow v Nemo Rangers Sunday April 23 Blarney 3.45pm
BASED on how they performed in 2016, Mallow deserve to be short-listed as potential champions in the race for this year’s county PIFC title.
While they won just one of their three outings last year, they were a little unlucky to lose to both Ballingeary and Kiskeam, who later crossed paths in a semi-final which the latter won a point before going on to lift the title at Fermoy’s expense in the decider.
Several of the Mallow players are members of the Avondhu senior squad, with James Loughrey, Andrew Cashman, Ryan Harkin, Cian O’Riordan and Killian O’Connor all featuring prominently in the highly-rated divisional side’s facile win over Kiskeam last weekend.
Trevor McEvoy and Bill Myers also played a part in that victory, while Cork senior panelist Matty Taylor was unable to line out due to injury, and the Mallow management will be keeping their fingers crossed that he’ll be available for selection next Sunday.
Whether or which, Mallow will be able to put out a very formidable starting fifteen, and they must be strongly fancied to get the job done against Nemo Rangers.
They would be well-advised to be on their guard at the same time, because Nemo’s second-string is normally fairly strong, particularly in the early stages of the championship
Verdict: Mallow
COUNTY IFC Rockchapel v Adrigole Saturday April 22 Inchigeelagh 6pm
COUNTY junior champions in 2012, Rockchapel have qualified for two intermediate deciders since then, losing out to Eire Og and Bandon in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
It’s a commendable record of consistency, and, needless to say, they will be expected to go well again this year. Adrigole have struggled to make any sort of an impact at this level over the past few seasons, so it’s hard to see them coping with the quality that such as Seamus Hickey, Conor Keppell, Maurice Stack, Eamonn O’Callaghan, Den Joe O’Callaghan and William Murphy will bring to the table for the
Duhallow side. Verdict: Rockchapel Kanturk v Mitchelstown Saturday April 22 Churchtown 6.45pm
MITCHELSTOWN have a bit to find to come through here, on the evidence provided in the Round 2A clash between the teams last year, which resulted in a decisive win, 0-20 to 1-11, for Kanturk.
While the Avondhu side bounced back with a couple of victories over Glenville and Mayfield, their campaign ended on a very low note as they shipped an 18-point hammering from title-winners Bandon in the quarter-final.
Kanturk also bowed out at the quarter final stage in 2016, but they finished just four points adrift of Kilnamartyra, so they will certainly enter the fray with the more compelling credentials based on developments last season.
Aidan Walsh, John McLoughlin, Lorcan McLoughlin, Lorcan O’Neill, Ian Walsh and Mark Healy will be expected to feature prominently for Kanturk, while Mitchelstown will be looking to Shane Beston, Sean Walsh, Sean O’Sullivan, Fionn Herlihy, Shane Cahill and Lar O’Flynn to backbone their bid to upset the odds.
Verdict: Kanturk
Aghabullogue v Youghal Saturday April 22 Carrigtwohill 6.45pm
AGHABULLOGUE enjoyed a good run last year, advancing to the quarter finals where they pushed Rockchapel hard before a misdirected short kick-out near the end led to a goal that sealed a 2-12 to 0-12 win for the Duhallow side.
Defeated finalists in 2013, the Mid-Cork men, while not exactly noted for their consistency, have the potential to prove a handful for any opposition when they put their best forward.
And if such as John Corkery, Matthew Bradley, Niall Buckley, Ryan Dennehy, Michael Dennehy and Sean O’Sullivan are on song, they should have what it takes to deliver the goods against Youghal.
The Seasiders’ only win in three outings last year was achieved when they had two points to spare over Douglas’s second team in a relegation play-off.
Verdict: Aghabullogue
Ballydesmond v St Finbarrs Sunday April 23 Castlemagner 2pm
THE evergreen Donncha O’Connor remains the key player in an ageing Ballydesmond side that hasn’t progressed beyond Round 4 since 2013.
They did give a good account of themselves when going under by just three points, 3-8 to 0-14, to eventual champions Bandon in Round 3 last year, and they will hold a definite advantage in terms of experience when they square up to St Finbarrs on Sunday.
That might not be enough to get them over the line, however, against a Barrs side containing the bulk of the players who brought a county Under 21 title to Togher in 2016.
Verdict: St Finbarrs