Laragh might have edge over Stratford-Grangecon

Aughrim, Saturday, 4pm

THE Intermediate football championship returns this weekend. Annacurra and Donard-The Glen get proceedings underway on Friday night in Aughrim, before it is the turn of Laragh and Stratford-Grangecon on Saturday afternoon in the county grounds.

If one was to base one’s judgement of this game on 2019, Laragh would be considered the favourites. While they finished third in their group with three wins and two losses, Stratford-Grangecon were a lot more unsuccessful, having ended rock-bottom of their own group with a record of five defeats from five games.

Their drop to Junior ‘A’ was only denied by a win over Rathnew in the relegation final, the same team to whom they lost in the group stage earlier in the year.

It is hard to know what kind of game to expect,’ said John McCormack, Stratford manager. ‘I think really this year, it is going to come down to whoever has the better luck. A lot of luck will play a part on the day. I’d be confident that, if the lads can put in a performance, they can be in with a shout. Under the circumstances, it is a wide-open draw and a very good draw. I’d be confident, but again, it will come down to a whole lot of luck on the day.’

Meanwhile, Laragh advanced to the quarter-finals last year, only to ultimately fall to Kilcoole, who would go on to lose to eventual champions, Dunlavin, in the semi-finals.

‘I don’t think there is an easy game in intermediate football, said their manager, Deccie Byrne. ‘If you are talking to any of the managers, they will tell you that.

I suppose it is one of those cases where Stratford will be happy that they drew us, and we will be happy that we drew Stratford. Each team will be thinking, ‘ah, we will fancy our chances there,’ but we also know that it is going to be a difficult match. You are going in with that thing in your head. It is going to be a tough match but one we can win if we play to our best.’

For 2020, both teams will be yearning to improve on their respective showings from ladt year. For Laragh, it will be a case of wanting to go one step further than their previous exit in the quarter-finals, while Stratford-Grangecon would do well to affirm their position in intermediate football, while also striding towards a potential fairytale return to the top table.

Neither team can be judged on their league form this year. Both only played but a couple of games in division two, with both winning one and losing the other.

Team news

Both managers have reported injuries that will impact the panels which they will choose this weekend. Where Stratford are concerned, John McCormack has said that both Ross Coogan (hamstring) and Shane Byrne (hip) will be monitored over the days leading up to the match, although they are both doubts.

Meanwhile, McCormack has also revealed that two members of his team have opted out of returning to the fold out of concerns relating to the current health crisis; Mark Landon being one of them, while he was unable to recollect the second.

As for Laragh, Deccie Byrne has reported that Jack Dunne is unlikely to take part due to a hamstring injury sustained in a challenge match. Other than that,

Byrne will have a full squad from which to choose, with every player opting in for the championship.

His team’s preparation has also been more ideal than that of Stratford-Grangecon, having accumulated three challenge matches from which to bring the players up to something resembling match fitness, enabling him and his charges to maximise the build-up to the new season.

‘I don’t think I could ask for much more from the lads. It is not going to be ideal and we are not playing world-beating football, but it is as good as we can expect from the lads. We are happy enough going into it.

‘To be honest, we are out to enjoy it because a lot of people weren’t expecting anything at all this year. How we are approaching it is we are not putting a lot of pressure on it. We are just going out and are going to enjoy it.

Hopefully, nobody picks up any serious injuries. Of course, you are always hoping that we can avoid the elephant in the room and nobody picks up the virus.’

Verdict

Deciding what to make of this particular contest requires the weighing up of their respective preparations. Stratford, already the underdogs given their fortunes in 2019, will be much worse off when it comes to injuries and absentees.

On the flip side, Laragh have a cleaner bill of health of which to boast, while also benefitting from what limited sharpness that comes with the ability to play three challenge games, as opposed to Stratford, who have been able to play but a couple.

Prediction

Laragh will be physically readier than their opposition, thus leading to their ultimately victory.