Busy round of action ahead this weekend
Adam Burgess (Rathvilly) tries to find a way past Mount Leinster Rangers' goalkeeper Dean Grennan during their first round tie last weekend Photo: Pat Ahern
It's the second round of the Carlow Football Championships this weekend, Kieran Murphy looks ahead to the action
Old Leighlin will have been disappointed to come away with a draw against Éire Óg and if the truth be told, they have every reason to be angry with themselves. On the other hand, Rangers are a proud club and they will want to show that their performance against Rathvilly was just growing pains as they move from the small ball to the bigger in what was only a number of weeks. It is still hard to vote against Old Leighlin.
Rathvilly are all but through to the quarter-finals after their mauling of Rangers on Sunday. Éire Óg forced a draw against Old Leighlin but need something out of this game to all but assure themselves of getting out of the group. There is also a huge respect for each other here. Both will be judging their season on whether they win the title or not. Not this game. A tasty appetiser. Toss of the coin says Rathvilly but……..don’t bet your house on it.
Bagenalstown Gaels were not good on Friday night against Palatine. They hung in there until half-time but were blown away by the strong wind and a good and youthful Palatine side. Fenagh caused the shock of the championship deservedly beating Tinryland. With Fenagh forwards Jack Treacy and Padraig Hynes pulling the strings here, they could win again.
Palatine impressed on Friday against Bagenalstown Gaels but in truth the Barrowsiders lost their way in the second half. The Bennekerry side will have learned little but Tinryland, after their defeat to Fenagh, know they are out of wriggle room. Quite simply they have to win here because if they don’t a demoralised team could be going into their third and final game of the group against Éire Óg. The task would be huge then.
Clonmore are going into this game hurting like they haven’t hurt since that junior defeat to Éire Óg in Tullow during the Covid years. Even with one game to go, this one is season’s break for them. Naomh Eoin disappointed against an Éire Óg side who don’t look like world beaters on Sunday.
Both sides disappointed at the weekend. It was a worry to see Kildavin-Clonegal capitulate in the second half against St Patricks and it is hard to see where they will improve. Similarly with Ballinabranna against Grange. This intermediate competition is hard to predict.
Potentially the game of the weekend and that is irrespective of the grades. Ballinabranna did put it up to Grange in the first round but were put away with a degree of ease on Friday. St Patricks saw off the Kildavin-Clonegal challenge and really impressed on Sunday
Ballon raised eyebrows when they handed out a scutching to Clonmore in their opening group game on Friday. What was all that about? The vanquished had been a senior side last season and their opposition won the junior A. The YIs second team shouldn’t be beating the first team in Naomh Eoin but they did so at the weekend.
Palatine will have learned little after they went to St Mullins and came away with an easy and decisive win at the weekend. Kilbride looked sluggish against a disappointing Askea side on Sunday. Perhaps they needed to get that game out of their system.
Leighlinbridge looked impressive on Sunday with an all-round display against Rathvilly scoring 4-12 over the hour. Home advantage should mean something but O’Hanrahans look to be in serious trouble after a weekend mauling by Fighting Cocks.
What you see is what you get from Askea. You can’t really say that about their opposition here. St Mullins have to be better than what they showed in their first round game. If not, Asca will have it easy but that won’t tell them anything either.
Rathvilly will have got a lot more out of their game against Leighlinbridge on Sunday where they were decent but had to settle for second best. On paper and all known form, the Cocks first team should be able to beat a lot of the second teams from the senior clubs.
