Boherbue seek four in a row of Junior A football titles
THOUGH Gaelic games are in limbo owing to Covid-19 concerns, hopefully brighter days lie ahead and a ring of expectation holds out for the 2020 Duhallow Championships.
That applies to the Castlecor Potatoes JAFC as speculation on the likely outright winners once the championship is underway. However a structure, start and finish may be in doubt where from a past month of uncertainty, the GAA instructed all clubs to close their facilities completely amid a global crisis.
With all measures in place until Easter Sunday, at the earliest, in line with restrictions announced by the Government and HSE which suspended all sport in the country, it may well be some time before the green light is eventually allowed for action to proceed.
With the wipe-out of a games programme for two months or more, the structure of championships are likely to be looked at to ensure completion ahead of a county championship. A back door has existed to the Duhallow JAFC since 2002, Kiskeam availed of the second chance opportunity to go all the way to claim divisional and county accolades.
Earlier in that campaign, a shock surfaced, Kiskeam blotting their copybook, fresh from capturing the Examiner Cup in an unbeaten run, Kiskeam were expected to fare well in the championship but their best efforts could do little to halt a Millstreet tide from snatching a deserved first round success. However Kiskeam came in the back door to deliver a faultless display over a tenderaged Newmarket and decisive wins over Boherbue and Dromtariffe followed before yielding a fivepoint victory over Rockchapel in the decider.
A round robin format operated last season, which was not the best of scenarios, but yet there was no doubting the merits of Boherbue’s performance to claim a hat trick of titles for the first time in the club’s history.
From the County JAFC, disappointment for Boherbue on exiting at the quarter-final stage to newcomers St. James. The West Cork champions discovered some late inspiration to turn this encounter on its head to shoot the closing four points and take a step towards an eventual meeting against Kilshannig in the decider.
Looking at the upcoming championship, Boherbue will wear the favourites tag to complete a four in a row and hoping to translate their potential onto a county stage. Its fair to say, in 2017, getting out of Duhallow was a priority for Boherbue but in the past season or two, the target has become bigger and so does the ambition on going in search of making the concluding stages of a county championship.
Frustration could label Boherbue’s outings in the county todate, the omens are good, the last club to win a four in a row within Duhallow, Knocknagree progressed to land county honours in 1981. For the season ahead, Boherbue look to one of their own for guidance, Conor O’Riordan is coach and despite missing out on a few players, there will be an optimistic mindset within Boherbue and also outside the club that they amongst the top contenders for outright honours.
However given the present scenario in terms of a temporally wipeout of action and preparations in terms of training at a standstill, its currently so difficult for players and management to plan around daily work not to mention the impact in relation to sport and training.
As it stands, there are two groupings relating to the 2020 JAFC with Boherbue pitted against Kiskeam, Kanturk and Lyre in Group 1 while Knocknagree, Castlemagner and Cullen operate in Group 2.
A look at Group 1 sees Lyre involved, who waited until 2010 to put their own name on the Cup by bettering Kanturk. Lyre followed up to add another outright triumph in 2013 after warding off a late Cullen rally, and they were back in the final in 2016 and 2019 but lost both to Knocknagree and Boherbue respectively.
By reaching last season’s final allowed Lyre progress into the county, they made a decent start against Iveleary only for the Muskerry front-runners to turn the screw and claim the spoils. A number of players have retired as Seán Barrett returns for another season as coach.
Also in the Group are second teams from Kiskeam and Kanturk, their make up uncertain given that the planned County Board raft of club championship fixtures for senior, premier and intermediate are shelved for the month of April. The same applies to Knocknagree in Group 2 where these second sides may be asked to take the field ahead of their first teams.
During the past two seasons, much was spoken of the capabilities of Knocknagree second string. And though displaying creditable performances, they have lacked the balance to shake off a number of opponents including Cullen.
Again Cullen will provide opposition, not since 2016 have Cullen reached a divisional final when they came up short by a two point margin to a highly rated Knocknagree. Last season’s hopes faltered at the semi final stage, a dominant Lyre display during the closing quarter was crucial to the destination of the spoils.
This season, Cullen are guided by coach Seamus Fitzgerald as they look to emulate spectacular successes from the Noughties when they landed three divisional titles. Its been a barren run of late yet they are encouraging signs with a number of Cullen players involved on back to back Duarigle Gaels U-21 football teams that won divisional honours.
And they are some green shoots too for Castlemagner in their efforts to revive the glory days of the past when the club held dominance during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Currently undergoing a transition spell, young players have come on board, that will give coach Kyrle Holland plenty of incentive.
From a seven team involvement in this season’s championship, there are three second teams operating in the 2020 campaign. In normal circumstances, first string outfits should prevail, Boherbue enter the fray as fancies to retain their domestic title but its fair to say from uncharted territory and lockdowns, anything is possible.
By government direction, GAA and community life has been suspended and taken a back seat. For the best part, clubs and communities are weathering the storm, by staying positive and working together, only can normal routines including thoughts of championship action return.
From two groupings in Round 1, the two top sides advance to the semi final stage.
CASTLECOR POTATOES JAFC ROUND 1