Junior and intermediate finals fixed for Croker
Fr O’Neills of Cork take on Erin’s Own of Carlow in the junior decider, while the Rebel County also supplies a finalist in the intermediate final, with Cork representatives Ballinhassig facing Kilkenny’s Dicksboro.
There was huge excitement in both Cork clubs when it was confirmed yesterday that their All-Ireland finals will be played as a double header at GAA headquarters on February 12. The football finals are fixed for the same venue a week later.
O’Neills will be first into the fray against Erin’s Own (Carlow) at 1pm with Ballinhassig to follow against Dicksboro (Kilkenny) at 2.30pm.
“This is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Fr O’Neills official Denis Flynn. “If anyone had said to us back in 1996 when we won our first East Cork title that 10 years on, we would be in Croke Park for an All-Ireland club final, we’d have had him certified.
“To be there with your club is going to be something really special for all of us.”
Equally delighted with the opportunity to play in Croke Park was Ballinhassig selector Diarmuid
Coleman.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Diarmuid. “What a day it’s going to be. Hard to believe that three years ago Ballinhassig and Fr O’Neills met in the county junior championship final. It’s what fairy tales are made of.
“However, in all the euphoria surround the fixture at headquarters, we must not lose sight of the objective which is to win the All-Ireland.
“If the game had been fixed for some out-of-the-way venue, we wouldn’t care as long as we win. That is the bottom line.”
Weekend Fixtures:
Saturday
Walsh Cup S.H. Semi-Final Kilkenny v UCD, Freshford, 2.15pm (A. Stapleton, Laois).
Leinster U21 FC: Dublin v Kildare, Newbridge, 2.30pm, (D. Fahy, Longford)
Waterford Crystal Shield SH semi-final:
Waterford v Tipperary, Colligan (near Dungarvan), 2pm, (J Sexton, Limerick)
Allianz NFL Round One.
Division 1A: Kerry v Mayo, Tralee, 7.45pm (T Quigley, Wexford).
Sunday
Allianz NFL Round One (2.30pm unless stated)
Division 1A: Tyrone v Dublin, Omagh, (P Russell, Tipperary); Offaly v Cork, Tullamore, (G Ó Conámha, Galway); Monaghan v Fermanagh, Clontibret, (C Broderick, Down).
Division 1B: Down v Meath, Newcastle, (F Flynn, Leitrim); Armagh v Kildare, Crossmaglen, (M Duffy, Sligo); Derry v Galway, Celtic Park, (E Murtagh, Longford); Laois v Wexford, Portlaoise, (J Bannon, Longford).
Division 2A: Clare v Carlow, Cusack Park, (V Neary, Mayo); Donegal v Leitrim, Ballyshannon, (P Fox, Westmeath); London v Longford, Ruislip, 1pm, (R Hickey, Clare); Limerick v Roscommon, Páirc na nGael, 3pm, (D Coldrick, Meath).
Division 2B: Cavan v Louth, Kingspan Breffni Pk, (M Daly, Mayo); Antrim v Wicklow, Casement Park, (P Carney, Roscommon); Westmeath v Waterford, Cusack Park, (M Higgins, Fermanagh); Sligo v Tipperary, Markievicz Park, (A McAlynn, Derry).
Waterford Crystal Cup Final SH: Limerick v Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), Gaelic Grounds, 1.30pm, (G Hoey, Clare).
Waterford Crystal Shield SH semi-final: Kerry v University College Cork, Tralee, 2pm
(J O’Mahony, Limerick)
Walsh Cup S.H. Semi Final: Offaly v Wexford, Birr, 2.15pm, (B. Kelly, Westmeath)
Kehoe Cup S.H. Semi Final: Carlow v Kildare, Carlow, 2.15pm, (J Guinan, Kilkenny); Meath v DIT, Navan, 2.15pm, (F. Devereux, Kildare).
