With five of the opening round games in the divisional A grade junior hurling championship completed last weekend, the remaining two first round matches, i.e. Cobh v St Itas and reigning champions Carraig na bhFear and Carrigtwohill are scheduled to take place this weekend, on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon respectively.

PREVIEWS

Saturday, June 29 – AHC – Cobh v St Itas, at Carrigtwohill, 7.30pm.

The camán wielders representative of St Itas and Cobh, travel to Páirc Seamus de Barra, Carrigtwohill on Saturday night with the men from the harbour town firm favourites to advance to the third round. Led by the experienced veteran of many a battle Liam Greaney accompanied by players of the calibre of Martin O’Connor, Alan Stack, Cian Spriggs, Brian Ahern, Daragh O’Keeffe, dual Cork minor Kieran Histon and the possibility of former Imokilly and inter county star Derek Barrett coming out of retirement, should stand the lads wearing the green and gold colours in good stead.

Opponents St Itas, who hail from the south-western area of Youghal parish i.e. Gortroe, Pilmore and Redbarn, comprise the smallest club within the Imokilly division, were good enough to capture the county junior B grade hurling championship title four years ago. St Itas will call on current Cork senior Seamus Harnedy, Sean Supple, star goalkeeper Padraig O’Brien, Finbarr Foley, Warren Terry and the Loughlin bros, Alan and Eoghan. These lads can be depended upon to give their all for the pride and honour of the Saints, but in the final analysis Cobh look the stronger all round side and, provided they play to form, they should qualify for round three with something to spare.

Sunday, June 30 – AHC – Carraig na bhFear v Carrigtwohill, at Lisgoold, 3.30pm

The last of the first round games features the clash of the respective Carrig’s. This match, initially fixed for the Felix Sarsfield Memorial Park Watergrasshill, will now take place at the picturesque Lisgoold venue commencing at 3.30pm. Where the blue and gold clad Carrigtwohill side throw down the gauntlet to reigning title holders Carraig na bhFear. Liam Barry, Donal Hogan, Sean Forbes, Ronan Barrett, Denis and Tim O’Connor, Eoin O’Mahony and Martin McConville will spearhead the southern Carrig second string selection. While the defending champions, from the far North-western region of the division, will look to players of the calibre of Timmy Geaney, Martin Hickey, Con Burns, Colm O’Reilly, Dee O’Driscoll, Tomás Sheehan, Paul Murphy, Shane Horgan and the Hegarty bros, Aidan, Brian and goalkeeper Conor et al. All of the aforementioned are class performers and given the experience gained from being crowned champions, twice during the course of the past five years look the best of the rest. If they play to their undoubted potential Carraig should cruise into the third round.

SECOND ROUND DRAW

Shortly after the conclusion of the games the executive committee and club delegates will convene to make the draws for the second losers group series. The various participants scheduled to play on the weekend Friday or Saturday, July 5 and 6.

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES

Also this weekend there are a whole host of second round, senior and intermediate hurling championship games down for decision. With Killeagh and Cloyne involved in a double header at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night v Courcey Rovers and Blarney respectively. Cloyne, who lost to Kilbrittain in the opening round, should just about get the better of Blarney. While Killeagh will be put to the pin of their collars to offset the challenge of Courcey Rovers. St Catherines and Milford battle it out in Ballyhooly, in a contest that could go either way.

Turning to Sunday with both Bride Rovers and Erins Own involved in another senior hurling double header v Ballinhassig and Ballymartle at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Where both of the East Cork clubs will be provided with serious stern tests by the Carrigdhoun sides.

The same evening the camán wielders representative of Youghal and Ballincollig, go head to head in the premier intermediate championship at Páirc Uí Rinn, where the seasiders, who were shell-shocked by a late goal barrage by Valley Rovers in the first round, should get the better of the Muskerry side.

Aghada and Robert Emmetts clash on Friday night, in the county U21 B football championship quarter-final at 7.30 in Ballyhooly. Ballinacurra engage White’s Cross in the county junior B grade hurling championship.

On behalf of the Gaelic fraternity within the Imokilly division, we extend best wishes to all the East Cork clubs for a sequence of victories and further progression in the various grades throughout the current campaign.

GAMES REVIEW

A brief look back at the various results emanating from last week’s divisional A grade hurling championship. As expected Dungourney proved too strong for Bride Rovers second string selection on the scoreline of 1-18 to 1-7. While Sarsfields were rampant in their 3-21 to 1-11 victory over Killeagh.

Parochial rivals Russell Rovers and Cloyne produced a close fought contest throughout, with the Shanagarry lads triumphing by 1-15 to 1-12. After an evenly balanced opening half, with protagonists Castlemartyr and Midleton level 0-5 each at the interval, a great flag, courtesy of Evan O’Keeffe midway through the second half, propelled the reds to a five points victory, on the score of 1-11 to 0-9.

In the proverbial game of two halves, Erins Own, who led by 0-8 pts at the break, staved off a second half rally from Lisgoold, to emerge victorious by 4-11 to 3-11.

Turning to the big ball code Aghada ousted Newmarket 1-8 to 0-9, in the second round of the county senior football championship, while Youghal finally got the better of their nemesis Adrigole by 1-7 to 0-6 in the second round of the intermediate football championship. Ballinacurra qualified for the quarter-finals of the county junior B grade football equivalent courtesy of a whopping 3-16 to 0-3 triumph over Lismire.