Muskerry U-21 action to resume after weather affected weekend

LAST week saw all efforts at playing games being snowed out so all the attractive fixtures listed for the Muskerry under-21 football championship fell by the wayside. They are all re-fixed for the coming weekend so hopefully very entertaining fare is in the offing.

The two attractive semi-finals in the top grade of the divisions Macroom Motors under 21 football championship are arranged for Saturday and with one at 12.30 and the other at 4.30 the patrons will have the opportunity of witnessing both games if they so desire.

The two favoured sides to achieve the ultimate are still in the race and they avoided a semi-final meeting with Eire Óg playing Naomh Abán at Kilmurry, at 12.30 and Kilmurry meeting Ballincollig at 4.30 at Coachford. Eire Óg have clearly been the most impressive side in the outings to date and they will be strongly fancied to overcome their opponents from the Muskerry Gaeltacht and the fact that the former have a second under 21 football team participating in this season’s championship is an indication of their strength in depth.

Naomh Abán however are a side that can never be underestimated and they should give a good account of themselves on Saturday. Formidable players in the Eire Óg line out are Colm O Callaghan, Eoin O Shea, Chris Kelly, Jack Murphy, Jason Twomey, John Cooper and Paddy Twomey while players who will be to the forefront for Naomh Abán are Diarmuid Ó Ceallaigh, Conchúr O Criodáin and Caoimáin Ó Donnchú.

This game should provide a good hours football but Eire Óg get the vote to secure a final place. In the second semi-final Kilmurry who came so agonisingly close to capturing the title last season were the fancied side to make amends this season prior to the draws taking place as fourteen of the team who participated in last season’s final were still at their disposal. So they will enter the fray against Ballincollig on Saturday as favourites. They got a fright from Cill na Martra in their last outing however when they were victorious by the narrowest of margins.

It was a wakeup call for them however and they are sure to be at their best on Saturday. Ballincollig will be no pushover however as a good number of the team have been involved at senior football level in recent weeks and they have some good performers available for Saturday.

Kilmurry will have formidable figures in their line out in William Ronan, Liam Wall, the Warren brothers Fionn and Sean, Joe Ryan and Eoin Clifford while players likely to figure prominently for Ballincollig are Gearoid O Donoghue, Luke Fahy, Kevin Crowley, Rob Burke, Kevin Browne and Eoin O Reilly and this is a contest that could go right down to the wire.

MUSKERRY FIXTURES

FRIDAY MARCH 9

Under 21 ‘C’ Football Championship

Eire Óg v Lee Gaels at Ovens, 5.30

SATURDAY MARCH 10

Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final

Ballincollig v Kilmurry at Coachford, 4.30 At Kilmurry

Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final

Eire Óg v Naomh Abán 12.30

Under 21 ‘B’ Football Championship Round 2

Ballinora v Macroom at Annahala, 4.30

SUNDAY MARCH 11

Under-21 ‘B’ Football Championship Rd 2

Aghabullogue v Iveleary in Macroom, 4.30