A night of championship drama
THE draws for the 2017 football and hurling championships took place in Ballinakill on Monday night and they have thrown up some interesting developments to say the least.
The most seismic of the happenings is the Group of Death in the Renault Senior Football Championship where defending champions Baltinglass are joined by their county final enemies from last season in St Patrick’s and their arch rivals in the form of Rathnew. The men of Coolkenno are the fourth team in Group C and there were audibly gasps as the last name of St Patrick’s was pulled from the lunch box.
The other two groups, one of five teams and one of four, are also very intriguing with some belters of games on the menu. The full draw is as follows: Renault SFC 2017 13 teams Group 1 - (B) - , Annacurra, Eire Og, Avondale, Newtown.
Group 2 - (A) - Bray Emmets, Tinahely, AGB, Blessington, Kiltegan.
Group 3 - © Rathnew, Coolkenno, Baltinglass, St Pat’s.
From Group A the top three teams will qualify for quarter-finals. The first and second teams in B and C will be in the quarter-finals. The third placed teams in B and C will play off for last place. The semi-finals will be an open draw. The seedings for SFC quarter-finals are as follows:
1 - Winners of group A plays winner of third place play-off in B and C.
2 - Winner of Group B plays runner-up in Group C. 3 - Winner of Group C plays third in Group A. 4 - Runner-up in Group A plays runner-up in Group B. Semi-final is an open draw. Teams that don’t make knock-out stages are in the relegation battle (Keating Trophy).
There was some slight drama at the draw for the Darcy Sands IFC when Lacken’s Gerry O’Neill revealed that he was hoping that Kilbride and Lacken could combine and enter a team in the championship.
After some objections and some support a vote was taken and the new-look St Boden’s was permitted to take part. Darcy Sands IFC 2017 Group 1 - Hollywood, Donard-The Glen, Stratford, An Tochar, Carnew, Ashford.
Group 2 - St Boden’s (Kilbride/Lacken), Kilmac, Ballymanus, Aughrim, Ballinacor, Dunlavin, Rathnew JAFC 2017 Goup 1 - Eire Og (5), St Patrick’s (3), Carnew (1), Blessington (2), Baltinglass (4).
Group 2 - Laragh, Kilcoole, Knockananna, Valleymount, Barndarrig.
Group 3 - Newcastle, Coolboy, Kilbride, Shillelagh.
Two threes out of groups of five and two teams out of group of four for the quarter-finals. Seeded. Can’t meet somebody you’ve played in your own group. JBFC 2017 Group 1 - Newtown, An Tochar, Avondale, Baltinglass, Bray Emmets. Group 2 - AGB, Hollywood,Kiltegan, Lacken. Group 3 - Dunlavin, Enniskerry, Avoca, Rathnew. (Same seeding as the SFC and at the time of printing St Pat’s have entered a team). JCFC 2017 Two groups, one of six, one of five. Group 1 - Stratford -Grangecon, Ashford, Blessington, Kilcoole , Fergal Og .
Group 2 - Valleymount , Annacurra, Donard, Tinahely, Coolkenno.
There will be a new competition (football) involving 10 teams. Two groups Group 1 - Valleymount, Blessington, Ballymanus, An Tochar, Aughrim.
Group 2 - Ballinacor, Barndarrig, Knockananna, AGB, Ashford.
13-a-side. Games to be played on alternative weekends when not playing league or championship.
Dacia SHC 2017 - 1 - Eire Og, 2 - Carnew, 3 - Avondale, 4 - St Pat’s, 5 - Kiltegan, 6 - Glenealy, 7 - Bray Emmets. Six teams involved in the knock-out stages. IHC 2017 - Six teams - 1 - Carnew, 2 - Kilcoole, 3 - St Pat’s, 4 - Glenealy, 5 - Bray Emmets, 6 - Arklow Rocks.
Top two in semi-finals and quarters with remaining four.