Third time lucky as Glanmire and Nemo battle for place in final
In the first game, last year’s beaten finalists Glanmire let a three-point second-half semi-final lead slip, allowing Nemo battle back for a replay. Torrential rain put paid to that second game two weeks ago, but with mother nature in kind mood this week, get ready for a cracking open contest from two good football sides.
Of course Glanmire have a point to prove. Losing to Carbery Rangers last year was a bitter pill to swallow. But with Nemo winning the senior title last week they will be up against it again, for the Trabeg side will have high aspirations of a tasty double.
Nemo will be without Willie Morgan, who has a broken leg. He will be a huge loss. But what seasoned talent they have available. The likes of Joe Kavanagh, John Paul O’Neill, Stephen Twomey and Peter Morgan are terrific footballers. Michael Kearney and Liam O’Sullivan can also mix it with the best, so Glanmire can expect a tough afternoon.
Still the Riverstown side are no slouches and will probably start slight favourites. They will be looking for a big performance from Mick Cussen and with players like Daniel Molden, Ray Ryan, James Murphy, Paul Hanley and Cork hurler Kieran Murphy to drive them on.
The Cork JBFC final follows at 3pm with an interesting pairing between Churchtown and Randal Óg, who swept all aside in west Cork. They are in good form and should take the title. They will look to Dan Holland, Dan Cahalane, Michael O’Driscoll and Pat Joe O’Donovan to produce the goods, though Churchtown have good players. Tony Fitzgibbon was their semi-final hero against Crosshaven last week, scoring 3-2.
There are two games in the Cork junior football championship. The clash of Courcey Rovers and Grenagh at Ovens today (3pm) is a semi-final contest. Both sides were in action last week, Courceys beating Whites Cross and Grenagh accounting for Glanworth. Many feel it could be Grenagh’s year as they have been knocking on the door for a while. Tom Kenny is the man who can lift them but they also have excellent players in his cousins Mark Kenny and John Russell as well as Seamus Coleman, Martin Barry and Adrian O’Neill.
Courceys looked very good last week and have fine players in Timmy Lordan, David Murphy and the two Hayes in defence, along with Declan Murray and Michael O’Donovan in attack. It should be a good battle
The other game at Kildorrery today (3pm) is a quarter-final clash between Fr O’Neill’s and Cullen.
Cullen have been idle since last September, but any side coming out of Duhallow are dangerous competitors. They have four O’Sullivans on duty, Dermot and Don, as well as James and Pat, while Don Philpott can also produce the goods.
Kieran Wall got a brace of goals last week for Fr. O’Neill’s and a couple more wouldn’t go astray. John Terry, Niall Griffin and Billy Murphy can also be depended upon to give their all.
