Predictions: Imokilly or Sars, the Glen or Blarney?
Sarsfields' players celebrate the equalising goal against Imokilly' during the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier SHC semi final last year. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
It’s been an enthralling year of Cork hurling, as always.
A year that has played host to countless exciting games, with of course the usual surprises that the group format brings year on year.
Now, we’re down to just the finals, and in the Premier Senior HC and Senior A HC, there are two incredibly exciting matchups.
Imokilly to take on Sarsfields in the main event, with the former looking to win their first title since 2019, and the latter hoping to achieve back-to-back titles for the first time ever.
Imokilly are favourites and for good reason – the divisional side are absolutely stacked with talent.
Three Cork seniors in Seamus Harnedy, Ciaran Joyce and Daire O’Leary – as well as former Cork U20 stars Jack Leahy, Timmy Wilk and Diarmuid Healy.
That’s without mentioning the plethora of experience and talented club hurlers all the way through the squad, from starting 15 to panel.
They’re a side capable of finding scores from anyone, anywhere on the field. A near impossible side to contain.
But there is no club better equipped to deal with the east Cork division right now than Sarsfields.
The Riverstown side are playing at their best and have been by far the best of all club teams this year.
Daniel Hogan and Jack O’Connor have combined for 0-31 from play in the championship to date. Shane O’Regan too, who has notched 2-9.
Not many teams would win so effortlessly without a crucial forward – but Sars showed that they can with two convincing group wins, and a more challenging but equally impressive victory over Newtown.
With the likes of Paul Leopold, Eoghan Murphy and Luke Elliott at the back, Imokilly will find it harder to get scores.
Cathal McCarthy’s return from injury couldn’t have been timed any better, either.
There’s a reason Imokilly are favourites though. It’s the 5-24, 6-31, 0-27 and 1-29 tallies put up in their four games so far.
Their scoring return is outrageous, and something that Sars will be very wary of. If Imokilly start as they did against Blackrock, the task may just be too great for Sarsfields.
If Sars want to win, they’ll need goals. Even then, it may not be enough.
The favourites have gotten over the line at almost every stage of the Senior A HC this year, but of course that counts for little heading into the final.
What it does mean though, is that we see last year’s beaten finalists Blarney take on the relegated Premier Senior side, Glen Rovers.
Another incredibly tough one to call, despite the northsiders emerging as clear favourites.
They’ve been heavily tipped for every game so far, but did not have an easy day of it against Castlelyons in the semi-final.
Despite winning by six in the end, they had to work for it – and were punished for their sloppiness at times early in the second half.
By contrast, Blarney were unstoppable in the second period of their semi with Bride Rovers, and in the end made light work of their opponents in a grudge match.
It’s three Cork seniors versus three Cork seniors.
Three nailed on starters versus two.
Steven Lynam, Simon Kennefick and Eoin O’Leary have been flying this year. For that reason, I’ve got to go with the favourites once again.
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