Clyda will find Douglas a tough nut to crack

COUNTY SFC Clyda Rovers v Douglas Sunday April 23 Blarney 3.45pm BY NOEL HORGAN

SINCE emerging from premier intermediate ranks in 2013 have competed admirably at the top level, reaching the quarter-finals in their first year up before going under to Bishopstown after a replay.

True, they won just two of their eight championship outings in the meantime, but none of their defeats in 2015 and 2016 were in any way demoralising, especially considering the quality of the opposition they encountered.

Last year, for instance, they ran eventual county champions Carbery Rangers to a point in a Round 1 clash that went to extra-time, while they finished just three points adrift of 2016 runners-up Ballincollig in Round 3.

Douglas shipped a 4-13 to 0-6 hammering from Duhallow in Round 3 last year, but they succumbed to Carbery Rangers by four points prior to that, which amounted to a more accurate reflection of their true worth.

They have already got a win under the belt this season, as they comfortably accounted for Newcestown in a preliminary round tie, and they will be hoping to field a stronger team for the showdown with Clyda, given that such as Eoin Cadogan, former Cork senior Eoin Cotter and Cork U-21 player Kevin Flahive were all ruled out by injury the last day.

In Alan Cadogan and Sean Powter, Douglas possess a couple of forwards capable of inflicting a lot of damage, so it’s going to be no easy task for Clyda to bring them down, but it can be safely said the Mourneabbey men will make a bold bid to get their campaign off to a positive start in what’s likely to be a very close affair Verdict: Douglas