As it says on the tin and so we can finally let the 2011 thread drop down. Also there will be no schools or colleges discussion in this thread as per Bandages colleges competition thread.
I assume the raging debate here will center around who wins the East Cork Junior A Hurling championship this year.
Surely thats a foregone conclusion?
Fair enough
2nd Round draw in Galway Hurling Chship
Carnmore v Pearces
Clarenbridge v Mullagh
Ardrahan v Portumna
St Thomas’ v Mellows
Cashel/Kiltormer(Losers) v Athenry
Games on in two weeks. Winners join the weekends winners in group stages. Losers in a relegation playoff. Tough break for Ardrahan. Mullagh/Clarenbridge should be feisty enough
2 big shocks in the opening round of the Limerick Senior Football Championship. Monaleen beaten by Ballylanders by 4 points and Mountcollins beat Adare.
Might as well talk about the Cork Hurling Senior club championship then. Its very very open imo.
Carrigtwohill won it last year, and interestingly enough are a huge price with the bookies, who still don’t rate them. TBF they are bottom of the league so far this year, and I actually saw them train a little a few days ago and there was no intensity at all. They have some quality in White and Niall Mac but tbh its hard to know what they’ll do this year, real wildcard.
Sarsfields are probably the safest bet to win. They still have 15 very solid and athletic hurlers, even if some of them are overrated. In general they have the most consistent team to pick from and probably the strongest panel, but I always feel they flatter to decieve somewhat, particularly up front. Cian Mac is a class club hurler tbf, and Cussen is dangerous at this level. Faves probably, but not convincing ones.
Midleton would be second favourites. Would have the most talented group of players in the county, but are a little short at the back after losing Aidan Ryan. Still they have Lehane and Luke O’Farrell, plus the O’Mahonys, and Haughney. Still very young and don’t have as much depth as Sars but I hope they win it out.
Newtown are probably third favourites, even though they’ve lost a load of veterans they seem to be really gunning for it this year and still have a lot of quality like Coughlan, Clifford etc.
After that its anyone really. Regarding the city clubs, I like Na Piarsigh a lot - they currently top that the league - play a real nice brand of hurling and have one of the better coaches in Cork hurling. Have some very nice young hurlers like Duggan, Gould, the Dennehys, plus Sean Og and Gardiner, although neither of those tend to play that well at club level. Ditto for the Glen, another nice team to watch and well drilled, and have McDonnell, Moylan, Callinan and Brosnan. Still both of these teams are a bit dodgy mentally and have a habit of throwing away games, but I feel both can beat anyone on their day. The Rockies have by far the best underage set up in the county and have excellent young players coming through like the O’Keeffes, Stokes etc but its a couple of years too early for them to be anything other then mediocre. Barrs are a football club now. B’Town could be relegated.
Ballymartle are the other team to look out for, are a bit like Sars without being a shower of pricks. Consistent from 1-15 with some excellent club hurlers like the O’Dwyers and the Corrys, very well drilled and will always put in a good performance. Think they’ll make a semi final appearance again. Realistically I’d say 7 teams could win, but it’ll probably be between the two East Cork powerhouses.
I think it’s between Sars, Newtown and Midleton myself. Ben O’Connor’s retirement from Cork is a huge boost to Newtown and he is absolutely flying in the strange role of centre back . Also Pat Mulcahy returning could fill a hole at full back .If i was to have a bet i think Newtown at 4-1 are good value. I would agree with you Turenne that Ballymartle are a good outside bet, have youth and lots of good hurlers on their side.
I thought the two Mulcahys were gone…?
Brendan is gone, Pat Mulcahy and Gerry O’Connor back in he last few weeks, going well too.
Gort 1-14 vs 0-15 St Thomas
Athenry 1-11 vs 0-16 Loughrea
Turlough 0-17 vs 1-8 Liam Mellows
Craughwell 1-10 vs 0-12 Mullagh
Portumna 1-12 vs 1-14 Sarsfields
Carnmore 0-9 vs 1-14 Tommy Larkins
Clarinbridge 1-15 vs 0-21 Beagh
Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry 0-16 vs 0-10 Padraig Pearses
Ardrahan 0-13 vs 0-16 Kinvara
Kiltormer 1-11 vs 0-14 Castlegar
Some high profile losers gone into the pot here.
Games fixed for weekend 12-13 May.
Carnmore v Padraig Pearses
Clarinbridge v Mullagh
Ardrahan v Portumna
St. Thomas v Liam Mellows
Losers of Kiltormer / Castlegar v Athenry
Clarenbridge are the main high profile casualty of the new look Galway Club Chship, losing out to Mullagh at the weekend. The relegation playoffs will not sit well for the denizens in Paddy Burkes who were defending All Ireland Champions this time last year and only lost out to Gort in the County Final in November.
With the first 2 rounds complete* it now goes to a group stage. *Portumna and Ardrahan still have to play their 2nd round fixture as was called off at the weekend, Portumna should win handy
Group A - Gort, Pearses, Moycullen & Tommy Larkins[left]Group B - Craughwell, Kinvara, Portumna or Ardrahan, Castlegar.
Group C - Beagh, Mullagh, Sarsfields, Turloughmore.
Group D - Athenry, St Thomas’, Loughrea, Tynagh Abbey Duniry.
Relegation
Clarinbridge, Liam Mellows, Carnmore, Kiltormer and Portumna/Ardrahan
[/left]
So who has gone? I thought they lost 6-7 players?
I’d really like to see the Glen or Na Piarsigh win Cork, or at least make a final. Always entertaining sides that are well coached with a lot of flair. They would have no chance in Munster but no Cork club has.
group D looks tasty
[/left]
The new format in Galway is a breath of fresh air. The Bridge didn’t know what hit them when Beagh hit the field on day 1. The 12lb pledge could be heard beating the table all around Jenny park that evening
on a nokia e51 here. Cant see the screen fully. Sledge = Pledge. Jenny = Kenny. The beagh manager had a sledge to get the mood right!
Jenny Park not entirely inappropriate. The new structure has brought a new lease of life to hurling in the county for sure. Nice too that Moycullen get a bie to the group stages, allows them some settling in time. The Bridge will be pissed off but can see them bouncing back stronger for this. Their departure is certainly a wakeup call for the more established clubs. I’d be worried about Mellows, they seem to be on a slow and painful downward spiral. Lee is finished as a serious hurler, even at club level
Limerick Senior first round:
SHC: Granagh/Ballingarry 3-10 Adare 1-14; Garryspillane 1-17 Doon 2-11; Patrickswell 1-14 Effin 1-13; Kilmallock 2-16 Knockainey 0-8; Na Piarsaigh 0-16 South Liberties 1-13; Croom 1-12 Hospital Herbertstown 3-6;
IHC: Dromin Athlacca 1-19 Bruff 2-16; Ballybrown 3-13 Claughaun 0-4; Kilmeedy, Blackrock 2-17 Killeedy 0-12; Cappamore 2-12 Glenroe 0-14; Newcastle West 0-9 Knockaderry 0-9;
Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/results/#ixzz1usgkcBVA
Also Emmetts beat Bruree, Murroe-Boher beat Ahane, Na Piarsaigh drew with South Liberties and Croom drew with Hospital.
Hospital are some team to stay Senior without ever doing too much.
Worrying for Claughan or promising for Ballybrown?
One time gold standard club Mount Sion already staring relegation in the face in Waterford after losing to Intermediate champions Dunhill.