Grenagh aim to win back Muskerry Division 1 HL title when they face old rivals Donoughmore

Grenagh will look to win back the Cumnor Construction Muskerry Division 1 Hurling League title this weekend when they meet Donoughmore in the final.

The team in blue and yellow won the league crown in 2022 after a convincing victory over Éire Óg’s second team in the decider but were denied back-to-back trophies after being edged out by Inniscarra reserves in 2023. They have a chance to claim some early season silverware on Saturday in Blarney at 7pm and will be slight favourites to do so.

Grenagh have been knocking on the door in recent seasons in the MJK Oils Muskerry JAHC and they will be hoping to break the glass ceiling but Ballinora are the team to beat as they are going for four successive divisional crowns this year.

It’s no surprise that Grenagh have ended up in the league decider but they know that the main aim is lifting the Mid-Cork title, something they are craving for. In saying that, they still won’t turn down the opportunity of a trophy in the month of July.

Donoughmore have been the surprise package in this campaign as they finished in second spot after seven outings having amassed a creditable eleven points, a point behind Grenagh, but more importantly three points clear of second teams, Inniscarra and Blarney. They are going for a Division 1 league double after winning the football title last Saturday.

Donoughmore have underachieved by their high standards for the past number of campaigns in both league and then in the championship but have shown signs of green shoots in the past year or so. They finished in mid-table in the league last year with seven points while in the championship, they were desperately unlucky not to qualify out of their difficult group.

Donoughmore were in a three-team group with Grenagh and Éire Óg’s second team and after losing to Éire Óg by a point, a game they should have won, Donoughmore knew a win against Grenagh in the last group match would have meant qualification. For long periods they looked likely winners but could only manage a draw.

They haven’t felt sorry for themselves and have continued their relatively good form from 2023 into this year which has them in with an opportunity of winning the league title this weekend. In the MJK Oils JAHC, the team in black and white will meet Ballinora and Blarney’s second string in the group stage while Grenagh will take on Kilmichael and Ballincollig’s reserves in what is also a three-team group.

If the league meeting is anything to go by, it should be a very close encounter. The teams clashed in Grenagh back in May and they couldn’t be separated as it finished up 1-15 apiece.