Brideview go top of the league table after a home victory against Clashmore, and with Valley Rgs also winning, the league table is beginning to take a familiar appearance. In fact, Brideview and Valley had club doubles, with both the B sides winning. Valley defeated a resurgent Cappoquin on Saturday night, while Pinewood staged a remarkable recovery away to Inch when coming back from three goals down early in the second half to claim all three points.

In the 1st Division, Accrington reversed the previous week’s result away in Glenview, when they scored in the 86th minute to take all three points and they are now level with Castlebridge and four games each to play. Mogeely’s game away in Railway fell foul to the weather, as did Lismore v Kilworth and Youghal v Blackwater.

This coming week is all Ned Barry Cup fixtures with eight first round games down for decision.

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Cappoquin 0 Valley Rgs 3

Losing last week to Brideview in the cup opened the way for Valley to concentrate on regaining the league title. Both teams played an attacking game straight from the kick off, but the visitors were presented with the lead on 9mns through a Cappoquin own goal. Worse was to follow for the cornerstone club, when 5mns later, another own goal gave the visitors a two goal lead before half-time.

This was heartbreak for this young Cappoquin side who tried as hard as they could to mix it with their more experienced counterparts.

The home side upped their game after the restart, but could not break down a solid Valley defence. They were thrown a lifeline when awarded a penalty, but the spot kick sailed over the bar. Valley responded when Daniel Mangan scored goal number three, and this more or less killed the game as it became a mountain for Cappoquin to climb. Credit them however as they tried hard to the final whistle.

For Valley, this result saw them go joint top of the table with Blackwater, and two games less played.

Congrats to both teams in Cappoquin for a very sporting game, a game with plenty of good football.

Brideview 5 Clashmore 1

With Valley winning in Cappoquin the previous night, Brideview knew they had to take all three points on Sunday afternoon in Tallow, while for Clashmore, the points were needed to get themselves away from the bottom. However, JP Grey gave the home side the lead inside a minute and when Thomas Ryan added a second midway through the half, it seemed the game as contest was over. But credit Clashmore, after the restart they came more into the game and with 15mnds remaining, they pulled a goal back through Sean Fleming. However Brideview wrapped up the game when William Curley scored goal number three, followed by a Michael Curley goal. The scoring was complete when William Curley added number five.

This was the aim of Brideview at the start of the game, three points, knowing they would be top of the table come 4.30pm Sunday evening. Like their neighbours and challengers, Valley, they both have six games to play and as mentioned in these notes already, the crunch game will be when they meet in Tallow.

Pinewood 4 Inch 3

What a game we had on Saturday afternoon last at Sexton Park, with seven goals scored. The game was switched to Sexton Park in mid week when the Ballinamult pitch was deemed unplayable. Inch took the lead through Noel O’Connor and Patrick O’Sullivan added a second before half-time. Inch increased their lead after half-time when Daniel Savage scored and it looked game, set, and match to the East Cork side. But Pinewood, through Andy Meehan (x2) and Stephen Guiry, saw the game was in the melting pot. Keith Guiry scored the winner for Pinewood and the points were going back to Ballymacarbry.

LISMORE HOUSE HOTEL

Accrington 1 Glenview 0

Accrington reversed the result (3-0) from the previous week with this late winner in Fermoy on Sunday morning. Another win last Sunday would have seen the Melleray side in a challenging position for promotion. But both teams were very much under strength last Sunday, which is difficult to understand with so much at stake for both clubs. Both teams had chances in the game, but it was not until the 86th minute that the long serving Brian Carey scored the all important goal for the home side. The victory means that Accrington now join Castlebridge in joint second place in the promotion race and each of them have four league games to play, including playing each other in Fermoy.

Glenview must be very disappointed, however Accrington will be happy with the result and their league position and they have Caherdrinna as visitors on Sunday morning in the cup.

Valley Rgs B 3 Kinsalebeg 1

Valley continue to lead Section B of the division following this home victory against second-placed Kinsalebeg.

Adrian Carr gave Valley the lead midway through the opening half, and when the same player added a second before the break, the home side had a commanding lead at the break. Conor Treacy reduced the deficit early after the restart and then Valley missed a penalty to put the game out of reach of the West Waterford side. Dave Wallace’s spot kick for Valley put an end to the visitors’ challenge.

Brideview B 3 Caherdrinna 1

Brideview had to come from behind to claim all three points at Brideview Park on Sunday morning last. Eddie Murphy gave the visitors a half-time lead. 10mns after the restart, substitute Tom Harker equalised and it was not until the 80th minute that Dave McInerney gave the home side the lead. With time almost up, Harker scored again to ensure the win.

RESULTS

There were three games called off due to pitches failing inspections. Lismore v Kilworth, Youghal Utd v Blackwater, Railway Ath v Mogeely.

PREVIEWS

This Sunday we have eight games in the Ned Barry Perpetual Cup, while there is just one game in the 1st division. Cup games normally throw up the odd shock and when one analysis the cup games for Sunday there are a few banana skins, and this of course is the excitement and thrill of cup football.

Kinsalebeg v Lismore

Cup holders Lismore travel to Fitzgerald Park on Sunday afternoon to play their second cup game of the season, having defeated Kilworth in a preliminary round. Lismore have a much different team to last year’s visit to Fitzgerald Park, when both teams played their opening game in the 1st Division. At present Lismore are midway in the league table with six games to play, and it would appear their best hope for silverware is to retain the Barry Cup. Kinsalebeg are having a mixed season. Lismore will start as favourites, but they can expect a tough game from Kinsalebeg on their own excellent pitch.

Pinewood v Brideview A

Brideview A have already played Valley Rgs A in a preliminary round game and had to go to extra time to get over the line. When both sides met in the Tony Bolger Cup final in October, the game had to go to extra time to decide the winners, with Brideview coming out on top. When they met in the league in Tallow in October, the game ended 1-1. It is not an easy game to call, but we think Brideview have a good side together at present, as have Pinewood, who have a very experienced side. We give our vote to Brideview, but Pinewood have the knack of proving our predictions wrong, more often than any other team in the league, or so we’re told!! We stick with Brideview.

Glenview v Blackwater

Blackwater will come as favourites to Glenview Park, but the tight surrounds will not help Blackwater as they are so used to the wide open spaces of their home patch. This may help the Melleray side and if they can get that early score, then who knows. We make Blackwater favourites to be in the draw for the next round, but this is one of the cup games we wrote can very easily be a banana skin.

Railway Ath v Brideview B

The home side have seen their league games for the past two weekends called off because of the pitch being unplayable. While Brideview will come to Cappoquin full of confidence on Sunday morning following 2 recent wins. The Tallow side are in contention to win Section B of the division, while Railway have no chance of promotion, but could have a very big say in who is promoted as they must play all the top teams yet. This is cup football, but on current form Brideview must be favourites.

Clashmore v Inch A

Two teams that lost their league games last weekend. If Clashmore play with their strongest side, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Inch will have to get over the disappointment of last week, and will probably start as favourites.

Accrington v Caherdrinna

A North Cork local cup derby at Pike Road. Caherdrinna are playing their first season in cup football, and defeated Inch B in a preliminary round. Accrington are fighting for promotion, but are still inconsistent as they do not have their full squad available each weekend. The home team will start as favourites, but this is another one of those cup games that may not go the way of predictions. This is a big cup tie for the visitors and as it is a one off game, we can expect the Caherdrinna side to give of their very best. But we have to give our vote to Accrington.

Castlebridge v Youghal Utd.

A game that could easily be classified as one of the top games of the round. For many months Youghal were top of the premier, but have slipped in the past few weeks, while Castlebridge are battling for promotion to the premier with four league games remaining. We would make Youghal favourites normally, but their away record has been appalling all season and will have to improve if they are to come away with a victory, and as their hopes of league success is slipping away, this maybe their only hope of silverware. Castlebridge’s goal is promotion at the end of the season and a cup run will be a bonus. A game that can go either way, and may easily have to go to extra time to decide whose name is in the draw for the next round.

Mogeely v Cappoquin

This has the makings of a very interesting cup tie, with a young Cappoquin side, battling to stay in the premier, playing a team battling and favourites to be playing premier football next season. Cappoquin’s results are not doing justice to their displays, but it is evident that the experience is beginning to help the players. Mogeely is a team that should be in the premier as their type of football is similar to Cappoquin and so we can expect a very good game of football. Mogeely at home will start as favourites, but we will not rule out Cappoquin.

FIXTURES

SUNDAY, 17th FEBRUARY

NED BARRY CUP

Kinsalebeg v Lismore 2.30pm, P Griffin; Pinewood v Brideview A 11.30, M Reddy; Railway Ath v Brideview B 11.30, K Griffin; Clashmore v Inch A 2.30pm, J O’Riordan; Accrington v Caherdrinna 11.30, D O’Sullivan; Castlebridge v Youghal Utd 11.30, E Cusack; Mogeely v Cappoquin 11.30, A Kelly.

LISMORE HOUSE HOTEL 1st DIVISION

Invh v Valley Rgs 11.30, S Drislane.

DELEGATE MEETING

The league held the February meeting at Lismore House Hotel on Monday night week. There was one club absent on the night.

As we reported last week, the league has two new sponsors, with Alan McNamee, Heating and Plumbing, Killeagh, sponsoring the Liam Fitzgerald Cup, and Centra, Killeagh and Castlemartyr, sponsoring the player the year in both divisions.

The draw for the Liam Fitzgerald Cup was made during the meeting, resulting in two preliminary rounds with Mogeely v Brideview and Glenview v Inch

In the ¼ finals, the winners of Glenview/Inch play at home to Kinsalebeg. Railway Ath v the winners of Mogeely/Brideview, Accrington v Valley Rgs, Caherdrinna v Castlebridge.

The John Giles Walk and Family Fun Day will take place in Lismore on Sunday, 7th April. The sponsorship cards will be distributed to the clubs at the March delegate meeting.

The committee was asked to look into the prospects of running an over 33 league, and this is being planned for September/October.

The meeting was a very constructive one with many delegates speaking on a range of football matters.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a vote of sympathy was passed to the Barry and Neville families on the death of Siobhan Barry, and to the O’Neill family Waterford, on the death of Jimmy O’Neill.

Next delegate meeting on Monday, 4th March.

PHONE IN RESULTS

We are asking clubs to please phone in results to the PRO no later than 5pm each Sunday as per rule. This is to necessitate getting results to the local radios and the Irish Examiner.

We would ask clubs that play on Saturday to try and phone in results on Saturday evening, this will also help the PRO. With the league so tight at top and bottom of the premier, and also in the promotion stakes in the 1st division, many clubs ring looking for the results of games played on Saturdays.

DELEGATE MEETING

There is a delegate meeting of the WW/EC League on Monday, 4th March next at Lismore House Hotel commencing at 8.30pm.

JOHN GILES WALK AND FAMILY FUN DAY

The Annual John Giles Walk and Family Fun Day will take place this season on Sunday, April 7th, with Lismore once again the venue. The walk will take place around the town, while the Blackwater Community School will accommodate the family fun afternoon.

This is a wonderful opportunity for all the clubs in the league to raise much needed funds, and the sponsorship cards will be distributed to the clubs at the delegate meeting on 4th March.

LEAGUE TABLES W/E 10/2/2013

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PL W D L PTS

Brideview 12 8 1 3 25

Valley Rgs 12 7 3 2 24

Blackwater 14 7 3 4 24

Youghal Utd 14 7 1 6 22

Inch 13 7 1 5 22

Pinewood 12 6 2 4 20

Lismore 12 5 3 4 18

Clashmore 14 4 2 8 14

Cappoquin 13 3 2 8 11

Kilworth 12 0 0 12 0

Lismore House Hotel 1st Division

Mogeely 12 10 1 1 31

Castlebridge 13 7 2 4 23

Accrington 13 7 2 4 23

Glenview 14 6 3 5 21

Railway Ath 11 3 4 4 13

SECTION B

Valley Rgs B 13 5 3 5 18

Brideview B 13 5 2 6 17

Kinsalebeg 13 3 5 5 14

Caherdrinna 12 3 2 7 11

Inch B 10 1 0 9 3