East Cork Junior A Hurling: Carraig na bhFear face St Ita's with Cobh taking on Killeagh
Cathal Fitzgibbon, Killeagh, and Mark Reid, Sarsfields, in the East Cork Oil JAHC quarter-final in Shanagarry. Picture: Denis O Flynn
There are two cracking two East Cork Oil Junior A Hurling Championship semi-finals this weekend, as the countdown continues to the centenary year finals in Imokilly.
Both hurling and football showpieces are now confirmed for the bank holiday weekend later this month.
This Saturday, Carraig na bhFear and St Ita's journey to Castlelyons for the 2.30pm start, with Cobh and Killeagh making the trip to Glenville for 3pm on Sunday.
These games are very difficult to call and so far the pre-championship predictions have been accurate. The smart money was on the three first teams, Carraig na bhFear, St Ita's and Cobh, progressing, with Killeagh's wealth of young talent providing them with a quality second team.
Champions Carraig, who made a sooner-than-predicted football exit, have put all their efforts over the past few weeks into retaining their trophy. The team may have alternated a bit at various stages, but they are very much there on merit as their chase continues to put back-to-back titles together for the first time.
They had to come from behind to overcome Killeagh in a tight opener in Dungourney, where they eventually ran out winners by 0-15 to 0-12. They followed up with a 0-24 to 1-12 win over Bride Rovers and then raised their first green flags of the campaign when booking their semi-final spot in the 2-23 to 1-14 defeat of Carrigtwohill.
Without doubt a very testing afternoon awaits against St Ita's, who are showing glimpses of the form that saw them win their very first title in 2021. They have come through searching examinations when defeating Midleton and Bride Rovers narrowly in their last two games.
The superb scoring form of captain Darragh O'Brien has been notable in easing the burden of Cork star Seamie Harnedy.
If Carraig na bhFear can keep a lid on these two marksmen, they will progress, but that's far from easy as the Pilmore side are the top scorers across this championship season. Ita's recovered from a six-point first-day defeat to Cobh, to hit the high spots with a 4-24 to 2-5 beating over Sarsfields in their must-win second match.
Those two close calls in recent weeks have shown the character of the team. Ita's also played for the majority of the second half with 14 players against Bride Rovers.
Cobh too will be looking to some of their own shining lights such as Timmy Wilk and Diarmuid Kearney to guide them over the challenge of a fast-emerging Killeagh. At present Killeagh are rich in both numbers and young talent and with a few seasoned operators to stiffen up their second team, they are a match for the best around.
After Cobh beat Ita's, the harbour town side were then involved in the game of the championship against Midleton, recovering from a 12-point deficit to snatch a late win. A goal by the excellent Steve Dennis and points from Cork U20 Timmy Wilk and Jack Ronan swung it. The final group game, a 0-20 to 1-13 success, over Sars was much less dramatic.
Killeagh's response to that narrow loss to Carraig was admirable. Wins by 3-18 to 0-17 against Carrigtwohil and 1-22 to 1-13 over Bride Rovers booked their ticket to the knockout stages. They then made a statement with a 1-23 to 0-16 defeat of Sars when minor Barry Walsh inspired his colleagues to turn a four-point interval deficit into a 10-point triumph.
Walsh landed 1-12 but Sean Meade, Davy Kelleher, Mike Fitzgerald and Ben Walsh offered significant support. It's an exciting era for Killeagh and despite their Senior A exit to Blarney, there is a definite feeling that this is a club very much on the up.
With senior manager Bryan McCarthy again at the helm for Sunday's junior game, the side will be well prepared for what is anticipated, a match that is likely to go down right down to the wire.
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