Muskerry U21 A football championship semi-finals preview

NOT even three months on from Ballincollig retaining the Macroom Motors Muskerry U21 A football championship title, and the new campaign gets under way this weekend with two mouthwatering semi-final encounters.

Last season's divisional U21 football championships were moved to the end of the year and it caused problems especially in Mid-Cork. Unfortunately, Kilmurry, Canovee and Ballinora had to regrettably pull out of the A championship due to their adult teams still involved in their respective competitions.

That left just two teams remaining, Éire Óg and Ballincollig, and both played out an entertaining final in Ovens on Sunday, November 12, when three green flags from the Collig proved crucial as they prevailed 3-8 to 0-14.

The smart money would be on an Éire Óg and Ballincollig final once more, but stranger things have happened and especially this time of year with so many other things going on and also the weather could have a bearing. 

There is an added significance now with the reintroduction of the county championship for the first time since Covid, which will be played towards the end of the year. Ballincollig reached the last county final back in the 2019 season, which wasn't played until January 2020, but lost out to St Michael’s.

The Collig have a team littered with quality all over the pitch and they will be favourites to make it three-in-a-row. 

The kingpins make the short journey over the road to face Ballinora in Ballymah tomorrow at 2pm and will be looking to the likes of Harry Ahearne, Seán Dore and Darragh O’Mahony to fire them to victory. David O’Leary, a dual Cork minor last year, is expected to be in the mix. 

Ballinora will be tough opponents, and they will make life hard for Ballincollig. Nathan Davis and Ronan Barrow are teak-tough defenders, while Michael Quirke and Andrew O’Sullivan know where the posts are.

In the other semi-final, Éire Óg host Naomh Abán on Sunday in Ovens at 2.30pm. Éire Óg won this particular championship three seasons on the bounce back in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 campaigns, but they will hope it’s third time lucky this year after losing the last two deciders.

Adam McCarthy, Johnny Galvin and Brian Thompson are just some of Éire Óg’s key players.

Naomh Abán are back in the top grade after winning the B championship last season after a four-point win over Inniscarra in the final. Jack O’Donoghue and Adrian Casey will be integral in defence for the Ballyvourney based side. Ed Myers will cause the Éire Óg rearguard untold problems, and he will be ably supported by Daniel Kelly.

The final is down for the last weekend in February.