Club championships underway
THE various Castleisland Mart Club Championships swung into action last weekend.
There were thrills and spills and the usual quota of matches that required extra time and when the dust settled on Sunday evening there were some noteworthy results, but no great surprises as County League form more or less dictated where the spoils went.
It was good to see county players like Aidan O’Mahony and James O’Donoghue make returns with their respective clubs, Rathmore and Legion.
Round 2 draws were made on Sunday afternoon and the coming weekend should see the semi finalists known in most cases. The draw for the Intermediate relegation playoffs will be made at the next meeting of the County Committee.
In the Senior Club Championship, Killarney Legion got a late winner at Strand Road to set up a quarter final tie with local rivals, Dr Crokes who had a big win over St Michaels-Foilmore and Ardfert needed extra time to defeat Laune Rangers and qualify for a quarter-final meeting with County Champions, Austin Stacks.
There was a thriller in Rathbeg where Rathmore fought back with fourteen men to force extra time against Milltown / Castlemaine before going on to win by a six point margin and qualify for a semi final place against the winners of the Dr Crokes and Legion tie. Dingle’s victory over Kilcummin earns them a crack against the winners of the Austin Stacks v Ardfert tie.
In the Intermediate Championship, John Mitchels, who have made the perfect start in Division 2, defeated Division 1 side Finuge and their reward is a home tie against An Ghaeltacht, who brought Brosna’s championship fairy-tale to an end.
Skellig Rangers and Currow, both battling for survival in their respective divisions of the County League, could not be separated after extra time in Portmagee and they will meet one of many people’s favourites for the title, Desmonds, who defeated Glenflesk.
St Marys had a good victory in Listowel against the home side to set up a local quarter final derby against neighbours Waterville who defeated Gneeveguilla by seven points and Spa made home advantage count against Annascaul to earn another home tie in the quarter final against Kenmare who defeated Keel.