Weekend previews

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Group 2 Moyvane v Renard Listry 18.30

RENARD are the favourites to top this group and they should be more than a match for Moyvane, even in Con Brosnan Park...right? We’ve got to say so yes. You wouldn’t be hugely encouraged by Moyvane off the back of a four point defeat at the hands of fellow North Kerry side Asdee. Renard, meanwhile, come into the game following on from a hard fought victory over last year’s finalists Beale. With a final game against Asdee on neutral ground still to come they won’t want to slip up now.

Verdict: Renard

Group 3 Castlegregory v Scartaglin Castlegregory 18.30

SCARTAGLIN were really impressive last weekend in their demolition – and that’s the accurate word given the scoreline – of Tarber t on their home patch last Saturday evening and will be gunning for a place in the semi-finals as a result. They are by no means cer tain of it, however, there’s still a lot of football to be played in this group. As a matter of fact we can easily imagine the three top teams in this group taking points off each other – starting this weekend. Castlegregory were disappointed to lose out to Cordal by two points first day out but they can get back on the road here with a win at home. That said they’ll find it hard to keep Eddie Horan and co at bay, even on home soil.

Scar taglin

Verdict: Tarbert v Cordal Tarbert 18.30

TARBERT were desperately disappointing and disappointed in their performance against Scartaglin last Saturday. It’s going to be hard to rouse themselves in just seven days to see off a Cordal side who are properly in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals. Tarber t are technically still in contention, but the margin of their defeat last weekend leaves them in a really precarious position.

Are Tarbert better than what they showed last weekend? Almost certainly, but by enough to see off a Cordal side with something more tangible to play off? We’re not sure. In fact we ever so slightly doubt it.

Verdict: Cordal

Group 4 Ballyduff v Cromane Ballyduff 18.30

THIS is the group decider and in a way it’s a bit of a shame it’s not on neutral territory. Instead it’s in Ballyduff and that gives the home side a huge boost over their visitors this weekend.

Even at that you’d have to make Ballyduff pretty warm favourites for the game. To be honest it’s hard to judge where either side sits in relation to the others. Both beat Ballylongford, but Bally aren’t playing particularly well at the moment.

Ballyduff probably do have Cromane at a slight disadvantage given that Cromane were given a walkover from Tuosist, while Ballyduff got a game out of them. All in all you’d have to fancy Ballyduff to win. They’re a better side than their league position suggests, a championship side, supremely competitive, they’re unlikely to lose at home.

Verdict: Ballyduff

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Group 1 Knocknagoshel v Valentia Cromane 14.30

THIS is a real moment of truth for Knocknagoshel. Do they have the right stuff to push on from their impressive victory over Duagh in the first round? Can they carry the momentum from that game into this game with Valentia and face off against Annascaul in a likely group decider? For their part Valentia were more competitive in their game with Annsacaul than their early season woes suggested they might be. That’s going to be hugely encouraging for them, despite losing. Still we’d expect Knock to continue as they star ted.

Verdict: Knocknagoshel

Annascaul v Duagh Strand Road 14.30

ANNASCAUL had a slightly tricker star t to the campaign than expected, but they’re still in pole position for a place in the semi-finals. They’ll fancy their chances of getting the better of Duagh in this game. Duagh should be stronger in this game than they were in the opening round – Anthony Maher should be available to them – and, while they still have an outside chance of a place in the semi-finals, this game in Strand Road looks like one to lose for Annascaul. Could that pressure and expectation cost them? Time will tell.

Verdict: Annascaul

Group 2 Asdee v Beale Ballylongford 14.30

A DERBY between Asdee and Beale should bea hard-fought. Beale will want to win to get back in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals. The trouble is after their defeat to Renard last weekend, their fate is no longer in their own hands. They’d have to win this weekend and hope than both Moyvane and Asdee do them a favour. Asdee are better placed after their win over Moyvane, but Beale should be the better side.

Verdict: Beale

Group 4 Ballylongford v Tuosist Ballylongford 14.30

THIS is a game of no consequence – there’s no relegation from the junior championship – and given that Tuosist have already given one walkover in this competition there’s every chance they’ll give another one this weekend. As it stands the game is fixed for Sunday.

Verdict: Ballylongford