Glenbeigh / Glencar favoured to down Ballymacelligott

All games Sunday, April 26 First named team at home, thrown-in 2pm Glenbeigh/ Glencar v Ballymacelligott

This has the potential to be one of the games of the weekend.

Both teams came through potentially tricky first round times and did so with a certain amount of style. At home to Ballyduff – football underachievers, perhaps, given their ability but always a team with the potential to mix it up – Ballymacelligott scored nineteen points. In any man’s language that’s impressive.

Then there was Glenbeigh / Glencar going to Tarbert and really impressing, especially during a strong second half. Having lost out in the possession stakes in the first half they roared into contention in the second half.

Jack Brosnan was hugely influential for them, winning three clean kick outs and a break. Jeremiah Hoare was also key to them turning the screw on Tarbert and giving them the platform they required to bring guys like Gavan O’Grady ( below) and Darran O’Sullivan into the game. Once they did there was no stopping them.

That’s the challenge Ballymacelligott face, do at least as well as Tarbert did at midfield and hope to contain O’Grady and co up front. It won’t be easy that’s for sure, but Ballymac will feel relatively confident they have the fire-power to compete with guys like Aidan Breen, Padraig McCarthy, Shane O’Reilly and Luke Sweeney all on the scoreboard against Ballyduff.

Verdict: Glenbeigh / Glencar

Templenoe v Na Gaeil

Templenoe are a lot of people’s fancy to challenge Glenbeigh / Glencar for this championship, but could it be that Na Gaeil are real the darkhorses?

Come half three next Sunday afternoon we’ll know the answer for sure, because if Na Gaeil manage to come out of Templenoe with a result then they’ll have gone a long way towards proving their mettle.

They’ve got a quality coach in John Halpin (a man who led Duagh to the final of this competition in 2011). They’ve got Jack Barry driving the side from centre-field. They’ve got a forward of quality in Darragh Carmody. They’ve got a chance and against Churchill they showed their will to win and calmness under pressure.

Templenoe showed a lot of what was good about them in their victory over St Pats, scoring an impressive 3-14. On the flip side they conceded four goals. They’ll need to tighten up on that (David Culloty hit the back of the net for Na Gaeil against Churchill).

Still with somebody like Killian Spillane – scorer of 1-4 against St Pats – in the side they’ll always be competitive and it’s not just Spillane they have to rely upon for scores. Teddy Doyle and Kerry minor Stephen O’Sullivan landed 0-3 apiece, while Gavin Crowley nabbed a goal from centre-back.

It’s hard to ignore that kind of quality. Na Gaeil will give them plenty to think about and were the game in Killeen we might be forced to think again, but for now we’ll stick with the hosts.

Verdict: Templenoe

Listry v Firies

With their victory in last year’s Novice championship still fresh in the memory, it’s clear Listry have momentum.

They needed a last gasp John Foley score to secure victory over Cordal (a team who have proven very competitive in the grade over the years), but the confidence they’ll garner from that result could be exactly what they need for this weekend’s clash with neighbours Firies.

Operating out of Division 3 one would imagine they should have the measure of Division 4 Firies, but derbies and more generally championship matches don’t work that way. Fires won’t be easily over run.

Listry have a powerful midfield combination in Jimmy O’Leary and Garry O’Sullivan, a match for anybody. On the flip side Firies were hugely impressive in seeing off Dromid Pearses on their home patch last weekend – at one stage hitting 1-6 without reply.

The return to fitness of Jack Sherwood – he started Kerry’s National League campaign impressively – is a major boost to the east Kerry outfit and with players like Colm O’Shea and Padraig O’Mahony won’t be easily beaten.

This game is probably too close to call, but call it we must. Listry by a

whisker.

Verdict:

Listry