Talbot Hotel IFC profiles

GROUP 1

FENAGH 

Captain: Cormac Lomax Manager: Darroch Mulhall from Athy with Paul Whelan Players in/out: Michael Murphy is gone to Australia and Sean Smithers is not playing this year. Padraig O’Brien and Josh Kearney lead a bunch of good minors who are coming through.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “I can’t see anyone win the championship other than us. If I was to say someone else, Kildavin-Clonegal will be strong,” says Jamie McCabe.

First game: St Mullins If they were a Premiership club? Crystal Palace who tend to fluctuate up and down the divisions.

Prediction: This is a real group of death. Fenagh could vie for a last quarter-final place and could make the knock-out stages.

KILDAVIN/CLONEGAL

Captain: Donal Hickey Manager: Willie Hickey Players in/out: Dan Murphy and Daryl Roberts are back from their travels. John Kirwan is out of retirement and there are at least five players up from minor.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “I’d say every team fancies their chances at this stage. It will be a very close championship. The league is so far away it is hard to say. St Patrick’s might be favourites after winning the league,” says Donal Hickey.

First game: Naomh Eoin If they were a Premiership club? Nottingham Forest who have enjoyed past success but just staying up now is the challenge.

Prediction: They could top their group and depending on the draw could make the final.

NAOMH EOIN 

Captain: Adam Kenny Manager: Mick Byrne Players in/out: Martin Doyle is in Canada and Philip Smithers is injured. Adam Kenny is also recovering from injury but should play some part in the season. Eoin Hosey is back.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “Fenagh are strong,” says Adam Kenny.

First game: Kildavin-Clonegal If they were a Premiership club? Aston Villa are well known and respected but the results are not following.

Prediction: A place in the knock-out stages could be their lot. It would not be a big surprise if St Mullins beat them.

ST MULLINS 

Captain: Not appointed yet.

Manager: Ger Lennon, John Murphy, Damien Kielthy and Damien Purcell form the management team.

Players in/out: None If you don’t win the championship, who will? “St Patricks,” says Ger Lennon.

First game: Fenagh If they were a Premiership club? Brentford have come up through the divisions in recent years but that is as far as it goes now.

Prediction: It is hard to see them avoid a relegation play-off.

GROUP 2

BALLINABRANNA 

Captain: Jimmy Cahill was appointed manager at the start of the season but has picked up a cruciate injury since.

Manager: Jim Dunne and John Sheehan Players in/out: James Kehoe also has cruciate issues. Colin Quigley transferred from The Fighting Cocks.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? St Patricks First game: Grange If they were a Premiership club? West Ham United always seem to pull something out of their season. Write Ballinabranna off at your peril.

Prediction: They will make the quarter-finalists at least.

ÉIRE ÓG 

Captain: Eoin Maddock Manager: Damien Farrell leads a management team which includes Paul Fahy, Nigel Murphy and Seamus Lowry.

Players in/out: None but if anyone goes to the seniors a number of younger players might be brought in as replacements.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “St Patricks have to be fancied but everyone knows the intermediate is a bit of a melting pot. Any of the eight can win it and the first thing is to get out of your group and take it from there,” says Eoin Maddock.

First game: St Patricks.

If they were a Premiership club? Fulham. They continue to hold their own at this level but silverware is hard to come by.

Prediction: The game against Grange will be huge and if they win here, they should make the knock-out stages.

GRANGE 

Captain: Not selected yet Manager: Joint managers Peter Cleere/John Murphy Players in/out: Tom Kealy and Fionn Murphy are gone to Australia. Alan Fleming is working in London and Shane Cormican sustained a serious injury at the end of the league and is gone for the season. Most of last year’s minor team is training with the adults and will be looking to get their name on the starting line-up.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “It is tough to call. The same as last year and is wide open. Judging from the league, Ballinabranna and St Patricks are strong. Kildavin-Clonegal are there too. It is wide open. Tough to call,” says James Hickey.

First game: Ballinabranna If they were a Premiership club? Brighton and Hove Albion is a club that continually battles successfully above their own weight.

Prediction: They have lost some good players which they will struggle to replace immediately. They could end up in relegation play-off.

ST PATRICKS

Captain: Padraig Murphy Manager: Niall Barrett Players in/out: No player movement. The same as last year.

If you don’t win the championship, who will? “The intermediate is so hard to call. You could get relegated. You could win it. Couldn’t call it,” says Padraig Murphy.

First game: Éire Óg If they were a Premiership club? Manchester United. Past success means nothing now. There will be a lot of pressure on them this year to lift some silverware.

Prediction: They are the team to beat and should go straight to the semi-finals where their mettle will be tested. They could emerge as champions but watch Kildavin-Clonegal too.

FIXTURES 

Talbot Hotel Intermediate Football Championship – Round 1 

Games played at Netwatch Cullen Park unless stated 

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST - Naomh Moling v Fenagh, Training Centre Fenagh, 7.30pm 

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST - Naomh Eoin v Kildavin/Clonegal, 5pm 

SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST - St Patrick's v Éire Óg, 2pm Ballinabranna v Grange, 3.30pm 

Talbot Hotel Intermediate Football Championship – Round 2 

Games played at Netwatch Cullen Park unless stated 

FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST - Éire Óg v Ballinabranna, 7.15pm 

SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST - Fenagh v Naomh Eoin, Training Centre Fenagh pitch 1, 4pm; Kildavin/Clonegal v Naomh Moling, Training Centre Fenagh pitch 2, 4.10pm 

SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER - Grange v St Patricks, 3pm