Knockout stages to be confirmed

MICHAEL LYNG MOTORS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Group 1 

Old Leighlin v Rathvilly Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday, 4.00pm.

This is a strange one. Both sides are into the knock-out stages and whichever one wins here will go straight to the semi-finals. The two week break for the semi-finals can potentially slow momentum. Despite playing with fourteen players for most of the game, Rathvilly pulled away from Old Leighlin in the semi-final last year and the holders are still the best side in the competition.

Rathvilly are champions. They are performing like holders should and players such as Padhraig Bolger, Peter Burgess and Paraic Deering are complimenting the work of some of the more experienced players including Josh Moore, Ed Finnegan and Brian Smith.

Old Leighlin can grind when they have to as they showed against Mount Leinster Rangers on Friday. They have class throughout the side in Aaron Amond, Darragh Fitzgerald, Cathal Coughlan and Mikey Bambrick.

Verdict: Rathvilly 

Mount Leinster Rangers v Éire Óg Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday, 5.45pm.

It is hard to believe it is nine years since Mount Leinster Rangers shocked Éire Óg and dumped them out of the championship. Cormac Mullins, the joint Éire Óg manager, agrees it is not forgotten about still.

“2016 is seared in our brain. Those losses are more in your mind than your wins sometimes,” he said on Saturday after his side had drawn with Rathvilly.

Ross Dunphy is a massive loss to Éire Óg but in Colm Hulton and Darragh O’Brien will have to act as leaders here. They won’t get it easy from brothers, Fiachra and Conaill Fitzpatrick while Jon Nolan will help cement the Rangers defence.

Verdict: Éire Óg.

Group 2 

Bagenalstown Gaels v Tinryland Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday, 4.45pm.

There is a fair chance that if Tinryland could get the win here they would actually make the quarter-finals if Fenagh were to lose to Palatine which is probable. Fenagh’s point difference is minus twelve and Tinryland’s is minus fifteen. That would have three teams on one win each which could see Fenagh slip into the relegation place.

There is a complication here too in that the points difference will be devised after the results against the leading team in the group is omitted.

Tinryland have never suggested they have the power to get a win in the group. They play well but cannot sustain it. It is hard to bet against Bagenalstown Gaels who are well motivated by the local management team of TC Clarke, Hamish Beaton, Pat McDonnell and Alan Corcoran.

Verdict: Bagenalstown Gaels 

 Palatine v Fenagh The Training Centre, Friday, 8.30pm.

It is hard to look past Palatine in this one. Shane O’Neill is in the form of his life and can take the two-point route with relative ease. When required last Sunday against Tinryland Ciaran Moran, Conor Crowley and Cian Cashman all delivered.

Fenagh surprised Tinryland in the opening game but were brought back down to earth by Bagenalstown Gaels. Jack Treacy was a big loss at the weekend for Fenagh but he should be back here. Padraig Hynes, Ian Craddock and Cormac Lomax are quality forwards where a lot will be asked of them.

Verdict: Palatine 

TALBOT HOTEL INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Group 1 

Kildavin-Clonegal v Grange The Training Centre, Friday, 7.00pm 

Grange are in top form at the moment with a draw against St Patricks and a win against Ballinabranna. Kildavin-Clonegal’s victory against the same Ballinabranna means they win the head to head and are assured of at least third place.

Verdict: Grange 

Ballinabranna v St Patricks Training Centre, 12.30pm, Sunday 

A win here would probably see St Patricks top the group against Ballinabranna who cannot get away from the bottom of the table no matter what happens.

Verdict: St Patricks 

Group 2 

Naomh Eoin v Ballon Netwatch Cullen Park, Friday, 7.00pm.

Ballon are flying at the moment with wins against Éire Óg and Clonmore. The same two clubs have already beaten the Myshall side and they meet two days after this game. Naomh Eoin cannot avoid the relegation play-off but they will need to find something here in preparation for what lies ahead.

Verdict: Ballon 

Clonmore v Éire Óg Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday, 3.00pm 

Both sides need to find a little bit more from what they have shown already. Clonmore beat Naomh Eoin easily in the second round game but it is hard to come to any inclusion. Éire Og lost a scrap against Ballon in the second round but at this stage it is hard to see either the YIs or Clonmore end up as overall winners.

Verdict: Clonmore 

TALBOT HOTEL JUNIOR ‘A’ FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Group 1 

Kilbride v St Mullins Kilbride, Saturday, 6.00pm 

There can only be one result here with St Mullins failing to perform in the football championship this season.

Verdict: Kilbride 

Palatine v Asca Palatine, Saturday, 6.00pm 

With easy wins over St Mullins both these sides are already through to the knock-out stages. Asca eventually succumbed to Kilbride in their opening game but did enough to suggest they still have something to offer. Palatine are unbeaten in the group so that is where the form guide is.

Verdict: Palatine 

Group 2 

O’Hanrahans v Rathvilly Fr Ryan Park, Saturday, 7.45pm.

Rathvilly will win this with a bit to spare against an O’Hanrahan side who are palpably struggling.

Verdict: Rathvilly 

Leighlinbridge v Fighting Cocks Paul Monahan Park, Sunday, 12.00pm 

This is a tasty morsel coming at the end of the qualifying stages of the competition. With two wins each this is a head to head to see who tops the group. Charlie Nolan and Aidan Nolan know where the posts are for Leighlinbridge while the Cocks pair of Aaron Dowling and Cillian Fagan are keeping the umpire on their toes in the opening two games.

It could well be an open game but if fear of defeat prevails then the forwards might not get the space they need to execute.

Verdict: Leighlinbridge