Mediocre season for three ‘M’s with Mitchelstown in most danger
IN the J2, Mallow, Muskerry and Mitchelstown have been all battling away in recent months looking to first cement their respective places in the mid-division before then looking to push on and challenge for honours.
Muskerry currently lead the mini local league sitting ninth of 13, with Mallow one spot behind in 10th and Mitchelstown sitting two spots back in 12th and in serious danger of facing the drop.
None of the three sides are safe from relegation however it is hard to believe that a pair of wins from either Mallow or Muskerry won’t see them safe while Mitchelstown may well need a little more to stay in this tough, uncompromising division.
Muskerry have competed really well this season but have failed to secure wins on more than one occasion when it looked like the Gods were in their corner. Two wins from seven at this point is hardly a fair reflection of what has been a competitive season however the men in blue are where they are and they will need to improve if they are to stay within touching distance of the division above – a place they knew well for several years.
Narrow losses to Crosshaven, Kinsale, Castleisland and Old Christians were followed by a 10-point defeat at home to Thurles. Wins over St Mary’s and Ballincollig strengthened their position however if history is to be believed at least one more win will be needed for the Mid-Cork side to stay in this league.
Mallow have a very similar record to Muskerry with a few wins from seven however fewer losing bonus points picked up by the men from St Joseph’s Road means that Mallow are sitting behind their Ballyanly neighbours.
An opening day loss to Kinsale was followed the next week by a home win over Christians. A heavy defeat to Clonakilty was again followed by a win, this time at home to Killarney but from that success to now the league results have been poor with big defeats to Crosshaven and Castleisland not helping their cause.
Mallow will need to get their skates on if they are to stay clear of the danger zone however in that regard their fate is not entirely in their own hands as a win for Ballincollig in their game in hand puts Mallow right in the firing line.
Mitchelstown’s predicament, one spot off bottom will be tough for all at the club to take after they managed to get promoted to the middle tier at the first time of asking last season. 2017-2018 has been a much more difficult season however the men from north Cork are still well-capable of saving their own bacon with a win or two before season’s end.
A win away to Killarney has been the only real bright light of this challenging campaign however with five league games still to play, this season is far from done for the side that were widely regarded as one of the major positives of the 2016-2017 competitions.