Two Junior A Football Championship games this weekend
THIS week end there are two JAFC games in Avondhu. These are two loser group matches. On Thursday evening Ballyhooly face Mallow at Castletownroche.
In their opening games Ballyhooly lost out to Killavullen while Fermoy overcame Mallow. Mallow are in the Division 1 FL while Ballyhooly compete in the Division 2 FL. Neither have fared well. Mallow have played four games and won one and lost three. They defeated Grange 2-11 to 1-7 but were beaten by Ballyclough,
Fermoy and Buttevant. Ballyhooly in the Division 2 FL have played four games. They overcame Deel Rovers by 0-9 to 0-5 and defeated Mitchelstown by 3-13 to 0-9. Ballyhooly lost out to Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels and this past week they were beaten comprehensively by Glanworth 3-13 to 0-10.
Ballyhooly will be looking to Cathal O’Keeffe, Sean Linehan, Jake Mehigan, Kevin Kiely, Peter Aherne, Seamus Roche, James Roche and Emmet O’Riordan. They face a well balanced Mallow side who have a lot of experience. Players like Eoin Kelleher, Sean McDonnell, Sam Cronin, Jack Dillon, Kevin McCarthy, John McGuinness, Alan Hogan, Josh Murphy, Colin Stanton, Conor Stokes and Mark Roche have plenty of experience and may just about see Mallow through to the knockout stages.
The second JAFC game is on Friday evening in Ballyclough. Near neighbours Buttevant and Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels are the teams involved. Looking at the football league. Gaels competed in the Division 2 FL. They played six matches and won all six. Their league form has been very good. They defeated Ballyhooly 2-4 to 0-7, had a 2-10 to 0-10 win over Glanworth, received a walkover from Mitchelstown. In recent weeks they beat Clyda Rovers 5-17 to 0-11 and had a 2-13 to 1-9 win over Deel Rovers.
On Sunday last an injury time goal by John Breen gave them a 5-3 to 1-13 win over Shanballymore. Buttevant were in the JAFC and JAFL finals last year. They were beaten by Charleville in JAFC final but won the Division 1 FL title beating Charleville by 4-11 to 1-12. Buttevant have lost a number of players for various reasons and their league form to date has been poor.
In the Division 1 FL this year they played 3 games won one and lost two. They lost out to Ballyclough 4-6 to 1-12 and to Charleville by 2-17 to 2-8. Their win was against Mallow recently by 2-14 to 2-9.
If Buttevant can get their game together they should be too strong for the Gaels. Key Buttevant players are Ronan Donovan, Jack O’Riordan, Brian Flynn, Anthony O’Neill, Denis O’Sullivan. Seamus Madigan, Ryan Fowley, Chris O’Toole and the Lenahan brothers Kevin and Mark.
Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels even though in Division 2 are on a winning role. They have a good blend of youth and experience. Their key players include Thomas Fehin, Thomas Fitzgibbon, Colin O’Brien, Shane Coleman, Paraic O’Shea, Evan Coleman, Aidan Murphy and Michael Hedigan.
Mallow and Charleville clash in the Red FM County Division 2 HL this Friday in Charleville. Mallow are currently on top of the table with 6 wins from their 7 games played. Charleville have only played five matches and have won 4.