Fresh-faced Blarney have every chance of making it to the penultimate stage

Blarney v Valley Rovers

BLARNEY step back into premier hurling action on Saturday night when they square up to Valley Rovers in Páirc Uí Rinn with a spot in the last four on offer for whoever can prevail.

This has been a positive championship season so far for Blarney who came flying from the traps in Round 1 with a solid win over Ballinhassig and despite that win being all of five months ago Blarney will head into this clash full of confidence with an eye firmly on the prize that awaits.

Blarney are working with quite a young side this year and many of the newcomers impressed in their win over Ballinhassig the first day.

After just staying up in 2018, the Muskerry side have brought in the likes of Shane Barrett and Pádraig Power to join players of quality such as Peter Philpott, Joe Jordan and of course Mark Coleman, who continues to impress for both club and county.

Valley Rovers come into this one after a much more interesting route.

A loss to Kilworth on in late April was followed by a turnaround in fortunes against a highly fancied Cloyne side in Round 2.

A third Round win followed two weeks later over Ballincollig, which sets up this clash with a Blarney side that will have plenty talent on show in what is one of the biggest opportunities in recent years.

The premier grade is always one of the most competitive competitions in Cork GAA and this season’s championship is no exception – however the eight teams that remain in the hunt for the title will know that the chances of success have increased dramatically now that the likes of Mallow, Cloyne and Fermoy have all been despatched.

A tight game most certainly, and with more games under their belts Valley Rovers are likely to be a serious threat, but Blarney’s mixture of youth and experience looks like it could be creating something of a force at this level so don’t be surprised to see the men in red and white progress to the latter stages of this competition.