Big weekend for Ballydesmond duo in All Ireland semi-final

THIS weekend in Croke Ladies and Mens Senior Singles semi-finals are down for decision at Croke Park Handball centre with Cork interest focussed on ladies semi-finals.

Ballydesmond clubmates Catriona Casey and Aishling O’Keeffe face one another in an all Cork semi-final. Tat will be followed by the second semi-final in which the reigning All Ireland champion Limerick’s Martina McMahon take on Ciara Mahon, Kilkenny with Catriona Casey and Martina McMahon

Kilmurry v Ballincollig, Ovens 7:00 likely to win their semi-finals to set up a repeat of last year’s final at Croke Park on Saturday September 2.

Munster 60/30 championship Doubles programme will continue during the coming with finals in many of the doubles grades down for decision with Cork players striving to add to the tally of titles won to date.

Commencing this Thursday evening with all fixtures during the coming week scheduled for a 7.30 start at Ballyporeen In Ladies Junior B Doubles Final Kilworth pair Brid Horgan / Anna Dunne take on Limerick pair Birgid Quish / Leanne O’Brien,in a fairly evenly balanced contest that could go either way.

Moving on to this Friday evening at Broadford a double header featuring two finals with Cork players involved in Cork, play will commence with Minor Doubles in which Mallow pair David Walsh / Tagdh O’Neill take on Tipperary James Prentice / Jerome Cahill in what promises to be an interesting contest.

The Tipperary pair will carry the slight favourite tag in the game, but the Cork pair on their best form are well capable of winning it and hopefully they can do that. They won back to back 40/20 All-Ireland Minor Doubles titles together in the past two years and a win here would keep them on track for a 60/30 Minor Doubles title.

The second Final is Intermediate Doubles in which Liscarroll pair Daniel Relihan / Michael Hedigan face Limerick pair John Paul O’Connor / Mike O’Toole. The Liscarroll pair will be hoping they can produce their best form.

They have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years winning All-Ireland titles at Minor, Under 21 and in hardball and should not be over awed by their step up to 60/30 Intermeidate grade it would certainly be another important step for them if they could win this and keep alive their hope of an Intermediate All-Ireland title.

On Thursday evening next at Hospital venue Junior Doubles Final is down for decision with Mallow pair Tadgh Carroll / Ryan Harkin facing the winner of the second semi-final Limerick Keith Heelan / Patrick Frawley or Tipperary John Ferncombe / Sean Maher.

The Mallow pair have performed well in reaching the final and if they can improve that little bit they could be in with a great chance of clinching the title.

In last Sunday’s 60/30 All-Ireland Singles semi-finals both Cork players were successful with Shane Flynn, Boherbue defeating Cavan player Caolan Smith in Junior B singles at Cavan venue Virginia comfortably in both games on a score of 21/14, 21/4.

In our second semi-final played at Broadford John Herlihy, St Finbarrs defeated Conor Kerr,Tyrone 21/7,21/5 to reach the Golden Masters A Singles Final.

On this Saturday at Tipperary venue Ballina 60/30 Munster U13 and U15 Inter club competitions will be decided with Cork interest being in U13 where strong teams from Fermoy and Ballydesmond will be hoping to be in contention for outright honours.