Muskerry Premier Championships reaching their endgame
WE are at a very exciting stage in the Muskerry Premier Championship situation with three games in the M.J.K. Oils Junior Hurling Championship having been contested during the past week and the two semi-finals of the Ross Oil Junior Football Championship will be contested over the next four days.
An outstanding quarter final game in the Junior Hurling Championship was decided at Cloughduv on Tuesday evening last. That encounter involved Ballincollig and Iveleary and the latter were hoping for scalp of another big name hurling club following their first round victory over Blarney. They were unfortunate however to have to enter the fray without the services of four of their regulars including sharpshooter Darren Kelly. The game did go right down to the wire and the factor that tilted the balance in Ballincollig’s favour was the introduction of a formidable figure in the person of David Bowen.
David was to see action with Ballincollig’s intermediate team on the following Saturday so it was hoped to avoid danger of injury before same. He entered the fray in the junior game at the vital stage however to ensure Ballincollig managed to be ahead at the final whistle. The win by the latter however meant that they had a semi-final engagement with Kilmichael on Sunday evening last. This contest was again a closely fought one and it ended in a victory for the western side who now have three wins to their credit in this season’s competition. They are sure to give the final their best shot even though they are likely to be up against it.
Their final opponents are not know at the time of writing as the second semi-final played at Blarney on Saturday evening finished all square. Reigning champions Ballinora trailed Cloughduv by six points with very little playing time left but their determined last ditch effort yielded two goals so the sides must meet again.
The two junior football championship semi-finals will occupy our sporting minds for the next few days and this Thursday evening at Ovens, champions Kilmurry will be hoping to qualify for another final when they face Ballincollig. The latter have victories to their credit over Kilmichael and Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh following a replay but the side that will represent them this evening is much changed from the one that embarked on the championship campaign initially. Three players were promoted following their first round victory over Kilmichael and two more players George Durrant and Stephen Coughlan who were prominent in their recent convincing victory over Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh have since participated in the senior football championship. Players who are likely to be to the forefront of their effort at coming out on top this evening are Chris Collins, Kevin Crowley, Robbie Bourke, Brian Cotter and John Kelly. Kilmurry have to be fancied however as they have an abundance of talent both in the area of experience and promising youth. They will have in their line out Kevin Barret, Liam Long, David McCarthy, William Buckley, Liam Wall, Joe Ryan, Liam Wall and Sean Curzon and they expect to reach another final. In the second semi-final which is arranged for Macroom on Sunday evening Iveleary will face Canovee and it is the second meeting between the sides.
The brilliance of Cathal Vaughan when he was introduced as a substitute tilted the balance in Iveleary’s favour in their early season encounter. Canovee did well to stay in the championship race however when they subsequently travelled by the scenic route and they will certainly be determined to make amends for their first round defeat. This in an encounter that could go right down to the wire and we certainly expect a good hours play. The past week has certainly been a good one for Muskerry Clubs in the county championship arena. In premier intermediate football Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Eire Óg and Macroom all enjoyed convincing victories over Fermoy, Na Piarsaigh and St. Vincents respectively in intermediate football Aghabullogue were too good for Mayfield, in intermediate hurling Ballincollig defeated Kilbrittain with something to spare while the Kilmurry under 21 Footballers qualified for a county championship semi-final as a result of their exciting victory over Valley Rovers. We congratulate all those clubs and we wish them well.
Fixtures
Thursday August 24
Ross Oil Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Kilmurry v Ballincollig in Ovens at 7pm Ref: J. Ryan (Macroom)
Sunday, August 27
Ross Oil Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Canovee v Iveleary at Macroom at 7pm Ref: D. Murnane (Macroom) Monday, August 28
Oriel House Hotel Junior (B) Hurling Championship
Ballincollig v Blarney at Glogheen at 6:45 Ref: John Horgan (Gleann Na Laoi) Tuesday, August 29
Ballincollig Credit Union Junior (B) Football Championship
Canovee v Kilmurry in Macrroom at 6:45pm Ref.: Liam Barry (Ballincollig)