It’s win or bust time for Críost Rí

LAST year’s beaten finalists St. Brendan’s, Tralee CBS, Limerick Colleges and newcomers DLS Macroom are the only schools definitely through to the knock out stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí after Christmas.

Today sees the last of the round robin series and with four other places up for grabs, a feast of football should ensue.

Coláiste Chrìost Rì v Coláiste Choilm: Ballinora 2 p.m.

CRÌOST RÍ must win to remain on course. After losing to Brendan’s by the narrowest of margins in their opening round, the Capwell school bounced back with a comfortable victory over Glanmire Community School in the Cork colleges SFC (Simcox Cup).

The fact that they ran Brendan’s so close and the Killarney school had two goals to spare over Coláiste Choilm, suggests Críost Rí should get the win to see them through. But with the season over for the losers, expect the Ballincollig school to make a bold bid.

Verdict: A Críost Rí win.

Tralee CBS v ISK: Currow, 2pm.

TO AVOID any complications Tralee need a point to be certain of winning their group. They looked a good side when seeing off Castletroy and with the Killorglin school pointless after two outings it’s hard to see them causing an upset.

Verdict: A Tralee win.

Castletroy CS v St. Flannan’s: Meelick, 2pm.

WITH the winners going through, this game promises to be one of the best in the championship to date. The Limerick college pushed Tralee all the way in their last outing after giving ISK a bit of a drubbing in round one.

That form would suggest they are more than capable of taking Flannan’s, who made hard work of beating ISK in their last outing. Castletroy have excellent players in Darragh Connolly, Niall Gibbons, Jed McDermot and Jer Collins, but the Ennis college came from seven points down against ISK to win. If PG O’Donnell can maintain his goal scoring feats they could make it extremely difficult for their opponents.

Verdict: A Castletroy win.

CSN v Limerick Colleges: Mitchelstown, 2pm.

NOW in their third year competing at this level, Limerick Colleges have made the knock out stages with maximum points from two games. A crushing 2-13 to 0-8 win over Dingle CBS, who beat CSN in round one, suggests the Limerick side should win this game with plenty to spare. But expect the champions, who are only playing for pride, to provide stiff opposition.

Verdict: A Limerick Colleges win.

Shannon Schools v Dingle CBS: Glin, 2pm.

THIS is another crunch match with the winners going through. Dingle beat the champions in round one and were expected to do well, however, they flopped badly in round two, going under by 11 points. To be fair, though, they were missing two key players.

Eoin MacGearailt and Donal Ó Riain are expected back for this game which could be the difference.

Verdict: A Dingle win.

Col. na Sceilge v DLS Macroom: Beaufort, 2pm.

THE Macroom school have made a welcome return to the top flight after a 20 year absence and with maximum points from two games need just one point from this game to be certain of topping their group.

A win for the former champions from Kerry and a Glanmire win over St. Fachtna’s would see both schools finish on three points, which would bring scoring averages into play.

Na Sceilge are likely to have county minor Paddy Curran fully fit for this game and he could make the difference.

Verdict: A Coláiste na Sceilge win.

Glanmire CS v St. Fachtna’s: Newcestown, 2pm.

A FACHTNA’S win and they will go through along with DLS Macroom. A defeat and the Skibbereen school go out. Fachtna’s had a comfortable win over Douglas CS last week in the Simcox Cup which should have them in the right frame of mind and despite the best efforts of David Molden, John Halbert and Eoin Young, the Stephen Hurley led Skibb side should shade the issue.

Verdict: A St. Fachtnas win.