Kanturk are back flying the flag for local sides

A QUIET few days on the Munster Junior Club front last weekend saw the rugby fields of north and mid Cork run silent with all action saved for the senior rugby clubs of the county and beyond. We are four weeks into the season at this point and there has been plenty to cheer and speculate about from a local standpoint.

In the J1, Kanturk are flying the flag for local rugby followers and after a rocky start the boys in green appear to be now finding their mo jo. A win over bottom side Galbally saw Kanturk move up a spot to 12th and while the progression up the table was slight it is a move in the right direction and that will please all the boys at Knocknacolon.

Things will get a little tougher for the Duhallow side next Sunday when they entertain a St Mary’s side sitting ninth in the table however the Limerick side, like Kanturk, have won just one of their opening four fixtures of the season so far.

Fresh from a loss to Waterpark in their last outing St Marys will see the weaknesses at Kanturk this year and will hope to capitalise and progress towards the business end of the table.

Home advantage for the Limerick men will likely play a major part here, but if Kanturk want to move up the table and stay clear of what will be a difficult and long relegation dogfight these are the types of games that they will need to take points from.

In the J2, Mallow lead the way with four hugely impressive bonus point wins since the season began. Mallow have been a dormant giant at this grade in recent years however the 2018/19 campaign has seen the boys from St Joseph’s road come back to their best leaving all the other contenders in their wake.

This Sunday afternoon Mallow will welcome fellow Cork side Cobh Pirates to the north Cork town looking to make it five from five. Cobh have had a mixed bag start to their season with just one win from four however that is unlikely to be a factor as the sea siders look to get up for what will be the toughest game of the season for them.

Mallow will be hot favourites for this tie and will likely continue what has been their best start in many years.

Mid Cork’s Muskerry will also enjoy home advantage this Sunday as they welcome Casstleisland to Ballyanly.

Muskerry have been in a decent run of form of late winning two of their opening four games losing just once this league season. Muskerry have shown a much more clinical edge to their play this season after failing to see out many winning positions during the last campaign.

This weekend the Kerry side will bring plenty to the party however the Islanders have not impressed many this season so far with just one win from their three opening league fixtures. Hard to look past the home side this weekend maintaining their pursuit of Mallow near the head of the table.

Also in the J2, Fermoy will take to the toad on Sunday to square up to bottom placed Thurles looking to keep their position at the business end of the table. Fermoy come into this one in sixth which is eight places above their hosts.

A brilliant start to the 2018 campaign from Fermoy has generated a buzz around the club and another win this weekend will do little to quell the expectations surrounding this very competitive team.

For Thurles, a win soon must be their priority and they will likely look at Fermoy as one of their best chances to achieve that goal. A good tussle assured this Sunday afternoon.

Charleville get to sit out from league action this weekend which is all very well considering the town’s hurlers are competing in the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Final this Sunday. That leaves just Mitchelstown to play as they hit the road to county Clare to take on Scariff in the J3.

Mitchelstown have been very impressive this season and look well on their way to a return to the J2 if they can maintain the high levels of performance they have shown to date.

Mitchelstown are one of only two sides currently with four wins from four in the bottom grade with Tralee being the other. Both sides have been really impressive to this point and if things continue the way they have started then the title may well become a shoot-out between the pair of them. That is all a long way off right now and Scariff will be the only thing concentrating on the minds of the north Cork side.

Second from bottom after losing all three of their opening games, Scariff have shown little so far to suggest they can win this one but home advantage can do strange things to a side so Mitchelstown will need to be on their guard to avoid being the first Scariff scalp of the year.

All in all, hard to look past Mitchelstown making it five from five.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18

2.30 pm

J1 League

St Marys v Kanturk

J2 League

Muskerry v Castleisland Mallow v Cobh Pirates Thurles v Fermoy

J3 League

Scariff v Mitchelstown