It is hard to believe, but the 2013/2014 season will kick off on Sunday next, with the opening group games in the Bolger Cup. The past few weeks have been frantic for most clubs as they have played challenge games and in the various tournaments that clubs organise in July and August.

This season there are 12 teams competing in the Bolger Cup, comprising two groups of six teams, guaranteeing each team at least five competitive games before the league commences in the middle of September. The top two teams in each group will contest the semi-finals, with the two losers playing in the final of the Bolger Plate.

The Bolger Cup final and the Bolger Plate final will be played over the October bank holiday weekend. As these will be the first games of the new season, it is difficult to make predictions as the rumour mill is at full throttle of players transferring from club to club from within and outside of the league. Indeed, we will have to wait until Sunday evening to know the real extent of the rumours.

We wish to remind all the teams and the referees in the Bolger Cup that the league has agreed to the use of five substitutions in this competition, as was the case last season.

We will start our weekly match prediction, based on last season’s performances.

Brideview v Caherdrinna

The Bolger Cup winners of the past two seasons open their defence with a home game against Caherdrinna. Visiting Brideview Park for any team is always a daunting task and more especially as the Brideview team will consist of their combined A and B teams in the Bolger Cup.

Caherdrinna have already played a challenge game and this will be a help to them and maybe, depending on the Brideview team, there could be a shock in store. Still it is always difficult to go against a Brideview victory at home, and of course they have the incentive of the three in a row. Brideview to win, but we will not be surprised if points are shared.

Pinewood v Valley Rgs

The losing finalists of the past two seasons welcome the league winners of the past two seasons to Ballinamult on Sunday morning. Last season in the league, Pinewood won at home but lost in Conna, a game that saw the Ballymac’ side’s league aspirations disappear. Valley will have been playing in their club’s tournament for the last few weeks and we do not have any information on Pinewood’s pre season activities. Valley will definitely be using these games to prepare for the league as they made their intentions known at the end of last season – they want to equal their neighbours, Brideview with three-in-a-row league title victories. We expect Valley to be too strong for Pinewood.

Clashmore v Mogeely

Both teams have played challenge games in the past few weeks and will be prepared for the Bolger Cup. Last season Mogeely literally ran away with the 1st Division, losing only two games and were promoted many weeks before the end of the league. They also won the Liam Fitzgerald Cup. Clashmore on the other hand found themselves in the bottom four of the premier for most of the season and avoided relegation by five points. Mogeely will prove to be a real test and we think Mogeely will come out on top.

Railway Ath v Castlebridge

Castlebridge lost their first meeting with Railway in Cappoquin last season, but went on to win their other two encounters, finishing runners-up and promoted to the premier with Mogeely. Castlebridge, from what we hear through the rumour machine, will be a very strong side this season in the league. What squad they will have in the Bolger Cup, we will have to wait and see.

Castlebridge finished runners-up in the plate two years ago and they have already played in tournaments in the last couple of weeks, and these games should stand to them. With Joe Hartnett at the helm, they will be expected to challenge for the title and the Bolger Cup will be a great opportunity to see the strength of the squad. It is a game that could end in a draw.

Cappoquin v Inch

Both teams played in the final of the Bolger Plate last year in Lismore with Inch coming out on top. Cappoquin were relegated at the end of the season, but will be expected to bounce back at the first attempt. This very young team can use the experience of playing premier last year to their advantage and the Bolger Cup will be a great platform to Ray Murphy. Another club, back in training for the past few weeks, who we hear have signed some new players and also lost players during the close season. Inch have played friendly games also and they are the holders of the Bolger Plate.

They have an advantage this season as they have combined the A and B teams and have a strong squad to choose from. This game can go either way, so we will go for a draw in our prediction.

Kinsalebeg v Lismore

Lismore finished mid table in the premier last season and retained the Barry Cup. The club would definitely love to add the Bolger Cup, a name that is synonymous with the Lismore club and the WWEC League, to their collection. The Kinsalebeg team has improved with the experience gained in the last three years and playing on what so many have described as the best surface in the league, will not be easily defeated at home in league or cup. Like other teams, Lismore we have heard have lost players, but have also signed players and if what we hear is true, they will be a strong force in the league. The Lismore tradition of cup victories will make them favourites.

FIXTURES

SUNDAY, 18th AUGUST

Tony Bolger Cup (sponsored by Dungarvan Leader), all games kick off at 11.30am: Clashmore v Mogeely E Cusack; Pinewood v Valley Rgs, M Reddy; Brideview v Caherdrinna, D O’Sullivan; Railway Ath v Castlebridge, D Fogarty; Cappoquin v Inch, J O’Riordan; Kinsalebeg v Lismore, K Griffin.

WEDNESDAY, 21ST AUGUST

All games kick off 6.45pm – Mogeely v Pinewood, K Griffin; Valley Rgs v Caherdrinna, P Griffin; Brideview v Clashmore, J O’Riordan; Castlebridge v Cappoquin S Drislane; Inch v Kinsalebeg, M Reddy; Lismore v Railway Ath, E Cusack.

SUNDAY, 25TH AUGUST

Clashmore v Valley Rgs, D Fogarty; Pinewood v Caherdrinna, P Griffin; Mogeely v Brideview, M Reddy; Lismore v Castlebridge, J O’Riordan; Railway Ath v Inch, S Forde; Kinsalebeg v Cappoquin, A Higgins.

Notice to all clubs and referees, the committee of the WW/EC League will allow five substitutes in the Bolger Cup as last year when requested by the clubs.

DELEGATE MEETING

The next delegate meeting of the WW/EC League will take place on Monday, 2nd September at Lismore House Hotel commencing at 8.30pm. The league fixture list for the two divisions will be distributed to the clubs on the night.

YOUTH LEAGUE

By the time our notes appear in print, the committee will have met with the clubs on Monday night to organise the Youth League, which is to commence in the next two weeks. We will give full information in our notes next week.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all the cyclists who took part last weekend in the Tour de Munster Cycle in aid of Down Syndrome Ireland. The reception received when the cyclists made their stop in Lismore was commented on by all the cyclists, as the town literally came to a halt when the fire brigade led the cyclists down Gallow’s Hill to the monument. We know many of the cyclists taking part and we say well done to all.

TOM HAND CUP FINAL

On Sunday next at Turner’s Cross the final of the Tom Hand Memorial Cup will be played. This is the 2nd season of this competition and sees the winners of the FAI Intermediate Cup play the winners of the FAI Junior Cup. Sunday will see Avondale Utd, FAI Intermediate Cup winners play Sheriff YC, winners of the FAI Junior Cup.

For those of us who knew the late Tom Hand, as a referee in the League of Ireland, as an outstanding administrator in the Dublin AUL and chairman of the FAI Junior Council, Tom worked tirelessly for the betterment of football, especially the junior game – an honour to a wonderful individual. Kick off in Turner’s Cross is 2pm.