Muskerry JAHC semi-finals preview

WE are down to the last four in the MJK Oils Muskerry junior A hurling championship with the semi-finals taking place this weekend.

The last four encounters are down for decision on Sunday with Ballinora and Grenagh meeting in Ballyanly while in Ovens Dripsey face Kilmichael.

Everyone’s attention will be drawn to the mouthwatering contest between Ballinora, who are going for three-in-a-row divisional titles, and Grenagh who are desperate to lift the crown for the first time since 2013. The big encounter throws in at 4.30pm.

This is a repeat of last year's Mid-Cork final when Ballinora were given a stern test from the team in yellow and blue, with Ballinora eventually prevailing by 0-16 to 0-11. Ballinora have cruised to this stage, winning all three group games fairly comfortably, beating Inniscarra’s reserves 3-14 to 1-10, Ballincollig’s second team 4-24 to 1-13 and hammering Kilmichael 5-19 to 1-13 in the final group game.

They have a young lively team well able to hurl and it’s no surprise they are favourites not just in this game but to win yet another Mid-Cork title. All-Ireland winner with the Cork U20 hurlers this season Shane Kingston, is centre-back on this team, with Neil Lordan, Darragh Holmes and Liam Lyons also key players for the reigning Muskerry kingpins.

Despite finishing top of their group, Grenagh had three points so had to navigate the quarter-final stage and whether having that extra game under their belt will be of any benefit won’t be known until Sunday evening. There were only three teams in Grenagh’s group. They defeated Éire Óg’s second string on a scoreline of 3-22 to 1-12 before an under par performance against Donoughmore as it ended 0-14 to 1-11. Grenagh did show character to come back on a number of occasions, but they wouldn’t have been happy with how they played on that particular day.

Grenagh got back up on the horse as they won well against Blarney’s reserves 1-18 to 1-8 in the quarter-final two weeks ago to set up this much anticipated encounter. Kelvin Cummins and Peter McSweeney backbone the defence with David Coleman and Dan Twomey integral players in the forward line.

Moving onto the other semi-final tie which starts at 2pm, this is Dripsey’s first season back in the Muskerry JAHC since they won the divisional and county titles in 2008. They have made a good fist of it so far topping their group with two wins from two games. There were only three teams in Dripsey’s group. The team in red and blue beat Blarney's reserves, 2-15 to 0-6 before taking care of Cloughduv’s second team, 4-24 to 1-10. The likes of Eoghan Maher, Michael O’Riordan and David O’Sullivan are central figures for Dripsey while the evergreen John Carey is still motoring well in defence.

Kilmichael will be pleased with how their season has gone so far and reaching a Mid-Cork final would be massive for them. The group-stages went as well as it possibly could for Kilmichael, defeating Ballincollig’s reserves first day out, 3-17 to 0-19 before a 1-14 to 1-8 win over Inniscarra’s second team ensured qualification. A depleted Kilmichael side lost out to Ballinora, 5-19 to 1-13 in the final group match.

Kilmichael swept Éire Óg’s reserves aside 1-20 to 0-12 in the quarter-final. Peter Kelleher is hurling well for the blue and gold with Conor Cotter and Chris O’Connell also critical figures.