PREVIEW: MUSKERRY FACE AVONDHU IN CO SFC
Avondhu v Muskerry Monday, March 18 Páirc Uí Rinn, 4.15pm
IT may seem like just yesterday that the club championships in Cork finished up but next Monday, under lights, the divisional sides kick off what is likely to be one of the most hotly contested, packed, senior club championships in the country.
With Duhallow’s great run in last year’s football competition, as well as Imokilly’s impressive achievements on the hurling pitch, still a source of pride in those localities there will be an even greater focus for the other divisional and college sides to push on and perhaps get their hands on some long overdue silverware.
This Monday night Avondhu bring their own particular brand of football back into focus as they head to Pairc Uí Rinn to take on neighbours and rivals Muskerry in the only preliminary round fixture of this season’s colleges / divisions section of the draw.
Last season Avondhu flopped to a first round threepoint defeat to Beara 0-10 – 0-13, which ended their campaign before it ever really got off the ground. The boys in black and yellow were disappointed at how their only showing of the year went and will likely come into this one with a bit more to prove than last year. Avondhu’s opponents, Muskerry, also have plenty to prove this time round as they also bowed out on the opening day of the competition last year however their dismissal came at the hands of a very impressive CIT. 1-16 to 2-6. Avondhu suffered last year at the loss of their Mallow players to senior football and things are likely to get even tougher this time round after Fermoy’s victory in the 2018 intermediate championship sees their players also out of commission. That said Fermoy really held their players back for their own interests in 2018 which in hindsight proved to be a smart move.
Players from Mitchelstown, Charleville, Shanballymore and Glanworth will be required to again done the famous jersey with a host of smaller, but no less committed clubs also sending their players forward to represent the colours.
For Muskerry, the commitment is no less onerous on players as their club team commitments also need to be catered for.
This one is a close one to call however Avondhu may just have this one, that said, depending on who shows up, always an issue at this stage of the campaign, Muskerry will feel they could have got a worse draw to start their campaign.