Junior A Group 1
Thursday August 31
Askeaton vs Kilteely/Dromkeen @ 6.30pm in Ballybrown
Ballybricken/Bohermore vs Monagea @ 6.45pm in Fedamore
Saturday September 16
Patrickswell 2 vs Staker Wallace @ 6pm in Ballybricken
In the junior, both Askeaton & K/D beat the Wellâs second team fairly well but both have also suffered disappointing defeats. Willie OâMeara has been in sensational form for Askeaton, hitting 2-10 from play across their two games to date while the return of Darragh Carroll to Kilteely/Dromkeen has been huge for them, he is a real livewire. But James OâMeara and Oisin OâFarrell also carried a big threat for Askeaton the last day while Denis OâDea was probably the main man for K/D, and there will be no excuses about Brian OâGradyâs performance this time. Very hard to call due to the similar nature of the results both have had, I wonder do Askeaton just have that little bit extra up top? Askeaton by 1.
And the beneficiaries of both Askeaton & K/D dropping points were B/B and Monagea, both of whom have two wins on the board already. Whoever wins this has pretty much one foot in the quarter-final already. I do think Monagea rode their luck a little earlier in the group, despite the wise old heads of Tom OâCallaghan & Seanie Herlihy in attack. They will need more from the likes of James Normoyle & Jamie Baynham if they are to win this one as B/B do have a bit about them, their win over K/D was impressive. Iâll go with B/B by 3.
Not sure why the Well & the Stakers isnât on for another few weeks. Already effectively a relegation battle and itâs one I would expect the Well to win. Theyâll be so disappointed with their results so far but should get this done. The Well by 7.
Junior A Group 2
Thursday August 31
Claughaun vs Templeglantine @ 6.30pm in Ballyagran
Saturday September 2
Crecora/Manister vs Tournafulla @ 2pm in Coolyroe
Caherline vs Garryspillane 2 @ 5pm in Fedamore
I think Claughaun expect to have a few players back which should strengthen their case but not enough, I donât think. They were comfortably beaten the last day by C/M while Templeglantine got back on track after a narrow defeat on the opening weekend. Glantine should win this fairly comfortably to keep their hopes alive. Glantine by 8.
Huge match in Quaid Park on Saturday afternoon, could definitely be worth a visit as the two sides who have lost to Caherline face-off against each other. Already, this has the feel of a knockout match and is one of the reasons this competition is so cut-throat. Tour have a bit more experience in the latter stages but C/M do have some very decent young players and an ace-in-the-hole in Cathal OâNeill, a truly elite player at this (or any) level. Iâm going to tip them on the basis that I donât think they are a complete one man team either. C/M by 2.
Caherline have two wins on the board already, the Bouncers will be down at least one player, and I just canât see any result other than a Caherline victory. Caherline by 9.
Junior A Group 3
Friday September 1
Ahane 2 vs St. Patrickâs @ 6.30pm in Claughaun
Saturday September 2
Killeedy vs Old Christians @ 4pm in Mungret
Castletown/Ballyagran vs Feenagh/Kilmeedy @ 6pm in Newcastlewest
Patâs lost to Christians in the opening round but then Ahane beat Christians while Patâs shocked C/B. Ahane clearly are better than I thought but I expect Patâs to get a win here, having recovered from the opening-round victory and with both Hegartys, Sean Mortell, Shane Cross, etc. in form. Patâs by 5.
Two disappointing results for Killeedy, now theyâre fighting to be in the Premier Junior next year. Christians arenât bad and if Killeedy donât turn up, itâs not a guaranteed victory but I think if the minds are focused, they should have too much. Killeedy by 4.
This is arguably the game of the weekend. F/K delivered the performance of the round last time out by destroying Killeedy; if they can dispose of C/B too, theyâll basically be in a quarter-final and C/B would be in serious bother. Given both sidesâ results against Killeedy, itâs hard not to go with F/K but I expect this to be a serious contest. F/K by 4.
Junior A Group 4
Friday September 1
Blackrock 2 vs Mungret/St. Paulâs 2 @ 6.30pm in Martinstown
Doon 2 vs Rathkeale @ 6.45pm in Mungret
Sunday September 3
Bruff 2 vs Dromcollogher/Broadford @ 6pm in Feenagh
I do think Blackrock are the weakest in this group and, although Mungret mightnât be as strong as in previous years, they are still in a decent place to get out of this group and should have too much for Blackrockâs second team. Mungret by 7.
Doonâs second team shouldnât get much weaker and have already picked up a nice win and ran D/B close. Rathkeale scored plenty of goals against D/B but didnât push them quite as close as Doon did. I just think Doon have that bit more hurling and itâs not like they are lacking the pace and athleticism which Rathkeale definitely have either. Doon by 4.
D/B should have too much for Bruff on Sunday; they will go three from three with a victory and seem to be picking up a bit of momentum. Bruff arenât bad by any means but D/Bâs first team should expect to go very deep into this competition while Bruff were Junior B last year. D/B by 7.