Final round of group games to be played this weekend 

Senior Football Championship

Group 1

Mount Leinster Rangers v Tinryland

Netwatch Cullen Park, Friday, 8.35pm.

These two teams will be hurting for entirely different reasons. Rangers are reeling after their hammering by Old Leighlin while Tinryland, in the blink of an eye, changed their management team. Tinryland will probably be a little bit more focussed here and it should be enough to get the win which will put them into the knock-out stages.

Verdict: Tinryland

Old Leighlin v Bagenalstown Gaels

Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday, 4.30pm

This could well be the match of the senior championship so far when the sides meet on Sunday. Both sides have two victories each and one is going to lay a marker here. In Cathal Coughlan, Aaron Amond and Sean Taylor never mind the counter attacking Tadhg Roche, Old Leighlin have lethal finishers. This might be too much for Bagenalstown Gaels who will be looking to the Clarke brothers, Jamie and Shane, as well as Paddy McDonnell who are all proven match winners.

Verdict: Old Leighlin

Group 2

Clonmore v Palatine

Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday, 5.30pm

The die is already cast in the group. Even if Clonmore beat Palatine they cannot escape the relegation play-off as they have both been beaten by Rathvilly and Éire Óg who play each other later in the evening. Clonmore will be looking uneasily at a relegation play-off against either Mount Leinster Rangers or Tinryland so a good performance once again is habit forming and ideal preparation. It is still hard to see them beat a good looking Palatine side who are assured of a semi-final place.

Verdict: Palatine

Rathvilly v Éire Óg

Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday, 7.15pm

These two are already destined for the quarter-finals. It is going to be impossible to read too much into the respective performances of the sides here. Does one go out and try to inflict a mother and father of all hidings on the other and hope that shatters confidence?

More likely the two sides will adapt the velvet glove approach and wait to see how the draw goes after Sunday’s games. Remember, Éire Óg might have won the championship last year but they only overcame their rivals on penalties and didn’t beat Rathvilly on the scoreboard.

Verdict: Rathvilly

Intermediate Football Championship

Group 1

Naomh Eoin v St Mullins

Netwatch Cullen Park, Friday, 7.15pm

Both these sides have already lost to Fenagh and Kildavin-Clonegal. Neither will win the championship but Naomh Eoin will be a little bit more motivated to get the win which will assure them of a place in the quarter-finals.

Verdict: Naomh Eoin

Kildavin-Clonegal v Fenagh

Training Centre, Saturday, 3.40pm

Two teams with 100% records against lack-lustre opponents. Something has to give here. The championship hasn’t really started in earnest for either team. There could well be a draw here but for an interest bet maybe Fenagh have better score getters in Colin Byrne and Padraig Hynes. For Kildavin-Clonegal, Daryl Roberts and Jake Nolan have the potential to disprove that assertion.

Verdict: Fenagh

Group 2

St Patricks v Ballinabranna

Training Centre, Saturday, 3.40pm

Grange have asked questions of both these sides and they haven’t been able to come up with the answers. Inconsistency and an inability in defence has cost both teams dear. Neither are showing championship winning form so the nod goes to St Patricks who have Brian Byrne and a so far strangely quiet Jack Kennedy to pull the strings for the Slaneysiders.

Verdict: St Patricks

Grange v Éire Óg

Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday, 3.00pm

Éire Óg have been desperately unlucky to lose close games to St Patricks and Ballinabranna. Grange have impressed but can drop out of games for short spells.

Verdict: Grange

Junior Football A Championship

Group 1

O’Hanrahans v Asca

O’Hanrahans, Saturday, 6.00pm

These two sides are already through to the knock-out stages as they both beat Palatine. Asca are probably in a better position at the moment but O’Hanrahans will draw from their last quarter performance against Palatine last time out.

Verdict: Asca

Palatine v Kilbride

Palatine, Sunday, 12.00pm

Kilbride will be too strong for the home team here and Kilbride will use this as a base to improve as they look to the semi-finals.

Verdict: Kilbride

Group 2

Ballon v Tinryland

Ballon, Friday, 7.15pm

Ballon’s comprehensive win over the Fighting Cocks at the weekend suggests they came out well after losing narrowly to Leighlinbridge in the first round. They will be too strong here.

Verdict: Ballon

Fighting Cocks v Leighlinbridge

Fighting Cocks, Saturday, 6.00pm

There is never much between the sides but Leighlinbridge hitting 5-10 against any team never mind Tinryland suggests they are building momentum all the time. They should win here in a game which will be close.

Verdict: Leighlinbridge

Junior Football ‘B’ Championship

First named team at home

Clonmore v Éire Óg, 12pm

Fenagh v Old Leighlin, 6.30pm

Kildavin/Clonegal v Ballinabranna, 6pm