Boherbue fancied in battle with former champs

Boherbue v Canovee

ROUND 1 of the County JAFC brings Boherbue and Canovee into opposition, the pair enter the fray on the back of contrasting form and it makes for a most interesting tussle between two sides who are amongst those shortlisted for possible honours by the close of next month.

There is some similarly, both Canovee and Boherbue have players involved in hurling with Cloughdubh and Dromtariffe respectively. Canovee enter a county championship arena for the first time in more than a decade, their previous journey rewarded on becoming the first Cork club to land All Ireland JAFC honours in 2008.

The past few seasons have been pretty frustrating for Canovee, fortunes improving this season to better Beál Atha’n Ghaorthaidh, defending holders Kilmurry and Inniscarra to reach the decider against Iveleary.

Here Canovee endured disappointment, second best to a side that erased reverse outcomes in the previous two finals. No doubt Canovee will welcome the opportunity to play here, looking to the guidance of Brian Ahern, Denis Murphy, Brian O’Donoughue, James Moynihan and Mark Healy.

Boherbue are gaining experience at this level, hoping to build from their exploits on dominating Duhallow for the past two seasons.

When the bar rises, Boherbue are now well aware of tough obstacles, narrowly losing to Iveleary last season at the quarter final stage. Entering this season’s Duhallow campaign, Boherbue as defending champions were fancied to succeed yet final opponents Dromtariffe came close to upsetting the form-book in a drawn game.

No doubt, Boherbue deserved their win in the replay albeit, not entirely convincing in a low scoring tussle. Boherbue possess plenty of talent through Daniel Buckley, Niall Murphy, Kevin Cremin, the O’Gorman brothers and Gerry O’Connor.

Given the exploits of last season, the soundings are Boherbue can create an impression in the county. They are sure to face a reaction from a Canovee side keen to put right the disappointment of a divisional final loss yet if Boherbue play up to potential, they can secure a quarter-final slot.

Verdict: Boherbue