Boherbue and Duarigle Gaels promise lively affair in U-21 B and C Championship
THE Corkman Duhallow U-21 B and C Football Championship draws commanded attention at the opening Board meeting of the New Year in Kanturk on Monday night.
Six teams participate in the higher grade and the pick tie from the opening round is the meeting of Boherbue and Duarigle Gaels. The Gaels are a Millstreet and Cullen combination, amalgamating in this grade for the first time, having enjoyed success in juvenile affairs.
When Boherbue and Millstreet clashed in a semi-final last season, Millstreet turned up the heat on the reigning champions in extra time to a dramatic contest.
On a sticky surface, both sides deserved credit to a contest of fierce intensity and flat out effort over 80 minutes with the outcome in doubt right to the end. However at the last whistle, Millstreet emerged that bit more balanced and held a physical presence in the key departments that made significant contributions.
That said Boherbue were somewhat unlucky, creating a number of goaling opportunities only to be foiled on brilliant saves by Millstreet ‘keeper Dylan O’Leary. The 2018 makes for an interesting as does the meeting of Robert Emmets and Knocknagree.
That’s a repeat of a semi-final from last season, Robert Emmets staged a marvellous second half comeback to claim a single point victory over Knocknagree.
After operating second fiddle for much of the opening half, the Lismire and Newmarket combination proceeded to showcase their undoubted character and resilience to overturn a four point interval deficit to storm into a four point advantage. In fairness to Knocknagree, they rallied back into contention to force parity only for Emmets wrestle back the initiative and land the telling scores to shade a thrilling outcome.
Elsewhere in the draw, Kanturk come up against Kiskeam while County U-21 C champions Dromtariffe received a bye.
At C level, there will be new champions, St. Peters face Ballydesmond whilst Lyre tackle Croke Rovers.
The Corkman U-21 ‘B’ FC Round 1
Duarigle Gaels v Boherbue Knocknagree v Robert Emmets Kanturk v Kiskeam Dromtariffe bye
The Corkman U-21 ‘C’ FC Round 2
St Peters v Ballydesmond
Lyre v Croke Rovers