Cloughduv and Meelin should serve up a real cracker in Banteer

Cloughduv v Meelin

NEITHER Cloughduv nor Meelin will be short of confidence here to a highly appealing clash. Any side that comes up from Junior A ranks as county champions has to be a good one and that applies to Cloughduv.

A long time coming but deliverance day surfaced for Cloughduv last autumn to better Russell Rovers to secure county honours. And a great run in Munster added provincial accolades only for the Mid Cork side falter to Kilkenny opponents Dunamaggin after extra time in the All Ireland semi-final.

Elevated to intermediate ranks, Cloughduv are hot on the trail towards further honours to reach the quarter final. En route, they better St Catherines (2017 Junior champions) and Dungourney (2015 Junior champions). No surprise as to the central figure behind the win over Dungourney, Brian Verling posting 1-10 out of 1-15.

Far from a one man effort, Cloughduv owed much to the play of Brian O’Leary, David O’Leary, Mark Walsh and Mark Verling. Meelin lead the way in the current decade, the 2010 county Junior champions progressed to add All-Ireland glory. Nowadays, it’s all about survival at intermediate, back to back wins over second teams from Midleton and Ballymartle unveiled Meelin’s challenge

The victors experience proved decisive against Ballymartle, Meelin held a number of outstanding individual performances with Eamonn Brosnan in exceptional form to shoot a 2-7 tally. Indeed, Meelin hurled with a greater fervour thanks to the play of Mike Forrest, Brendan O’Sullivan, Jason O’Callaghan and Shane Hehir.

A place in a semi-final awaits the winners, the predatory skills of Brosnan or Verling will again surface yet it may need intervention from a support player to separate the sides.

On going form, Cloughduv will enter the fray as favourites yet don’t rule out Meelin – have been there and done it capable of upsetting the championship babes.

Verdict: Cloughduv