Saturday evening signals the start of the serious business in the senior football championship with plenty on the line in a Dungarvan double header. One last chance for Ballinameela and Ardmore to escape the senior shredder in the curtain raiser while The Nire are almost unbackable to continue their winning ways in a derby clash with Rathgormack.
Saturday September 13
Relegation Play-Off
Ballinameela v Ardmore (6.00 at Fraher Field)
Ten wides turned out to be expensive for Ballinameela in their concluding group game against De La Salle as they spurned their first opportunity at avoiding the drop. Despite these misses, 1-10 was their best return of the season so far and offers encouragement for this relegation decider. Their recognised shooters Tom Curran, Jim Curran and Jason Morrissey will be required here as Meela have only struck 1-34. The accomplished Brendan Phelan also provides drive and direction from centre back. The absence of experienced pair Brian Phelan and Eamonn Walsh hurt them in that showdown with De La Salle and left them with an extremely young side. Ardmore have yet to place themselves in a position to win any of their games. Similar to their opponents, their troubles lie up front with a return of just 2-42. Responsibility rests with David and John Gartland along with Seamus Keating to make more of an impression on the scoreboard. They have the edge in experience here but 11 defeats across both senior competitions takes a toll. It’s hard to stop a losing sequence and Ardmore’s 17 year stay in the senior ranks appears to be in danger.
Prediction: Ballinameela
Quarter Final
The Nire v Rathgormack (7.30 at Fraher Field)
If The Nire keep all of their key men fit, they look best placed to wrestle the title away from Ballinacourty. The group winners shot 20 points per game on average and conceded a mere eight points. Liam Lawlor provides the focal point at number fourteen that the rest feed off. Thirteen different players posted scores over the five group games. Shane Ryan has grown into a marquee forward and he tops the championship charts on 6-19 at the start of the knockout rounds. The only weakness to pick out is that they are possibly vulnerable under the high ball and Stradbally raided three goals in the group phase. Rathgormack will look to shut down the space for these forwards to operate in. They reduced Ballinacourty to 1-9 but that was way in April. They leaked 3-14 against Kilrossanty followed by 18 points against An Rinn. Restricting Gavin Nugent (provider of 19 points) seriously limits their scoring potential. The Nire will depend on their man markers to handle Nugent rather than install a screen in front of him. The green and red have only managed two goals compared to eleven for their opponents.
Odds: The Nire 1/10 Draw 14/1 Rathgormack 11/2
Prediction: The Nire
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