Football starter before the main course

Not a bad way to start the weekend with a repeat of last year’s county final pairing followed by the replay of the best championship match of 2012. The future prospects of the big three will be raked over and by Saturday evening we should know one of the county finalists.

13 October
Stradbally v Ballinacourty (4.00 at Fraher Field) Semi final
This has all the makings of a goalless semi final defined by fine margins. Ballinacourty won by a point last year and Stradbally came out on top by the same slender gap in 2010. Stradbally took their time to get the wheels in motion but they are now beginning to steamroll teams in a familiar fashion. They almost kicked away the quarter final by amassing 21 wides until the introduction of a few experienced heads settled things down. Age is creeping up on them but they have made the semis for the fourteenth consecutive season. Robert Ahearne has been their best player to date and can perform to a high standard at either midfield or full forward. Niall Curran has also sprinkled some of the old magic in front of the posts. Slowly but surely Ballinacourty are rising to the challenge of defending their title. Alarm bells were ringing after decisive defeats to The Nire and Rathgormack but they have managed to pull themselves together and the win over An Rinn should bring them on. They must increase their application levels another notch to match the Reds. Last year’s win should instil the confidence and patience necessary to break down a dogged rearguard. Patrick Hurney has led the way up front all season and gradually other players are following his example. The battle around the middle may determine the outcome here. Michael Walsh, Robert Ahearne and John Coffey will probably all end up around that sector for Stradbally while Shane Briggs may help out Sean O’Hare for Ballinacourty like he did twelve months ago in the county final. If Courty can break even or better here, their superior attack can see them through this one.
Odds: Stradbally 5/4 Draw 13/2 Ballinacourty 5/6
Prediction: Ballinacourty

The Nire v Kilrossanty (5.30 at Fraher Field) Quarter final replay
The surprise element is now missing from Kilrossanty; The Nire now know what to expect. They also have an extra week of recovery after exiting the hurling championship. If Liam Lawlor went for the jugular instead of fisting over the bar at a crucial juncture, The Nire would be eyeing up Clashmore already. The full forward made hay up to that point and even when he doesn’t score himself, he lays on the killer pass for others. Their attack has been firing hefty totals all season and they will feel that something like 1-11 or 1-12 should be sufficient here. After suffering back to back defeats against An Rinn and Stradbally, Kilrossanty have started to gather momentum. With Tommy Prendergast excelling at midfield alongside scorer in chief Paul Whyte, they have grown in stature. Joey Veale is also enjoying himself at the edge of the square. John Kiely’s men stand a chance but that bit of breathing space should stand to The Nire.
Odds: The Nire 3/10 Draw 15/2 Kilrossanty 3/1
Prediction: The Nire