We’re getting to the business end of the Championship season with the first round of knockout matches in the football (although the Junior is still at the group stage, that could drag on again). Some very intriguing matches at the top two grades in particular.
Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday September 7
Newcastlewest (1/3) vs Ballysteen (11/4) @3pm in Mick Neville Park
Fr. Casey’s (5/6) vs St. Kieran’s (5/4) @5.30pm in Newcastlewest
In the first of the senior quarter-finals, Newcastlewest take on Ballysteen. NCW were fairly impressive in the group stage: they won their first 4 matches fairly comfortably before being defeated by Oola by a single point in a match which didn’t overly matter. The highlight of their campaign to date was a dismantling of St. Kieran’s in the second round. Ballysteen started like a train and had two big wins against potential rivals, Ballylanders & Monaleen, before the break. Two losses, to Adare and Fr. Casey’s, in the space of a week after the break meant they needed to win their last game to go through but, inspired by Danny Neville, they did so in comprehensive fashion.
In Neville, they have the standout forward in the county but it’s not as if NCW are lacking in that department either with the likes of Jamie Lee and Diarmuid Kelly. I don’t think there will be much in this; knockout football is different, there’s no holding anything back; sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself where you know you are likely to go through. Ballysteen did start in some style and came through what was probably the tougher group but NCW have been more impressive over the course of the season. I, personally, wouldn’t be surprised if Ballysteen won but I’m going to tip the townies to win it by a few.
The other quarter-final should be a very even game. Casey’s fell to Adare by 4 in the second round but won a couple of games by narrow margins, which is always an impressive feat. It’s their first time back in the knockout stages since 2016 and they did come through a difficult group to get there. Kieran’s were hammered by Newcastlewest and pipped by Oola but did what they had to do in terms of getting here. The up-and-down nature of their performances is probably what really causes Casey’s to be favourites but I just think that Kieran’s have a higher ceiling. I think they have the players to get some bit of a handle on Adrian Enright and I do like the likes of Callinan, McSweeney and Hayes; I think they have that bit of firepower that will see them through.
Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Finals
Saturday September 7
Gerald Griffins (9/4) vs Rathkeale (2/5) @3.45pm in Newcastlewest
St. Patrick’s (1/3) vs Galtee Gaels (11/4) @6.30pm in Martinstown
This match is actually the first part of today’s double header in NCW, the first of two All-West matches there today. Both these sides lost once in the group stages; Rathkeale to St. Pat’s but they also picked up two draws along the way. Gerald Griffins were defeated by Mungret but recovered to defeat Galtee Gaels in the last round. Rathkeale are the bookies’ favourites and at the start of the year, you would have said that the top 3 in Group 1 would have been favourites against any of Group 2. Now, Gerald Griffins did rack up a couple of big wins while Rathkeale weren’t always that convincing but I haven’t been so convinced by Griffins to opt for them here.
St. Pat’s were defeated twice in their group, a very disappointing loss to Bruff by 9 as well as a 1-point defeat to Claughaun in the last game. Despite that, they still finished second in the group. Galtee Gaels drew with Mungret and lost to Gerald Griffins in their two matches against the other top teams in their group but were probably that bit more impressive in their other matches. They do have a huge dependence on the Childs brothers, Tommie at midfield to dominate kickouts and Bob inside to do most of the scoring. But if Pat’s have a full pick with Hegarty, Moran, Stephenson, Mullane et al; I do think they have too much all over the pitch and will get the win.
Junior Football Championship Group 1
Saturday September 7
Ballybrown vs Ballylanders @6pm in Croom
A win for Ballybrown would put them into the knockouts (presuming that the format remains the same as last year) with a game to spare. This is probably the match that Ballylanders would have been targeting to do same but I’ll tip Ballybrown to do what’s required.
Junior Football Championship Group 3
Saturday September 7
Crecora/Manister vs Oola @6pm in Kilteely
Sunday September 8
Croom vs South Liberties @6pm in Crecora
No matches in Group 2 but Group 3 has a match between the bottom two sides. Oola have lost to the top two teams, both who would be among the favourites for the county, while Crecora did lose to Kilteely/Dromkeen but also to South Liberties, which is disappointing. At the start of the year, this would have been seen as a big match in terms of seeing who gets that 3rd place and it still has a lot riding on it. It is hard to call but I’m going to go for Oola, just (although always hard to go for second teams without knowing who may or may not be available).
Croom should beat South Liberties well.
Junior Football Championship Group 4
Saturday Septemper 7
Ahane vs Monagea @6pm in Mick Neville Park
Sunday September 8
Ballybricken/Bohermore vs Bruree @12pm in Fedamore
A win for Monagea will see them into the knockouts. Ahane have a point on the board from their first two games, but I’d be very surprised if they got near Monagea.
Ballybricken/Bohermore drew with Ahane, Bruree have two losses from their matches against the top two. There is still a place up for grabs, it could come down to who takes it more seriously. If Bruree field a team, I think they should win this.
So:
Senior- Newcastlewest, St. Kieran’s
Intermediate- Rathkeale, St. Patrick’s
Junior- Ballybrown, Oola, Croom, Monagea, Bruree
