East Cork hurling clubs dominate county final weekend

East Cork faces will dominate this weekend at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh as two more county hurling cups are set to winter in Imokilly barony. 

Saturday's Co-Op Superstore Intermediate A decider (5pm) brings together two sides who are no strangers to recent county success as Lisgoold and Erin's Own cross cámans at 5pm. Then on Sunday from 2pm, the champions of the Premier Junior grade will be decided when last year's beaten finalist St Catherine's engage Russell Rovers.

Almost three weeks have elapsed since both Lisgoold and Erin's Own booked the final places. In Ballynoe, Lisgoold had to turn around an interval deficit to eventually run out six-point winners over Ballygiblin, 0-20 to 0-14. 

Meanwhile, Erin's Own made the most of first-half wind advantage to move into a decent interval lead and despite a brief Midleton rally early after the break, the Caherlag side were good value for their 3-11 to 1-14 win.

Erin's Own will write another remarkable page in their club history if they can triumph on Saturday, three titles in successive years in three different grades, would leave them playing premier intermediate with their second string in 2025. Lisgoold too want to make it a third recent title. In their case, a follow-up to the quick-fire successes at junior and premier junior a few years ago. For them too the step would be a momentous one.

CLINICAL

In group games, Lisgoold have registered 4-24 v Mayfield, 5-23 v Cloughduv and 2-24 v Youghal, which left them with a plus-42 scoring difference.

"Yes, it was good to see a good spread of scores across the three matches, with different players to the fore at various stages," team manager Mossie O'Connell said.

"In the semi-final, we were then down at half-time, restarted well, but then two sendings-off for Ballygiblin seemed to have broken momentum. However, we got to grips with things again as the half wore on.

"Erin's Own have so much experience and so many talented hurlers and of course will be trying to make history with three titles in succession. Semi-finals are there to be won, it's about turning up on the final day. Preparations have gone well. The Imokilly lads are back and all is good."

Brian O'Shea is the Erin's Own manager and after the win over Midleton in the semi-final, he admitted his delighted with their progress.

"At the start of the season, our main aim was to retain our status in this grade, thus we are thrilled to be back in another final. As the season went on, we got a bit of a run and things just took off. 

"The guys trained with the senior team and they are definitely getting value from that as time moved on. Some of the older guys know that the playing years may be dwindling away, but they are still very eager for success.

"A big new challenge awaits again, we know there is definitely room for improvement. 

Our shooting was not up to standard at times against Midleton, and we also conceded a few frees too many. These things like that will have to be sorted."

So to Sunday's Premier Junior decider where the majority of the current Russell Rovers squad have a relatively recent successful history, being part of the county and provincial winning teams of 2019, before advancing to the All-Ireland final in early 2020. 

They have ticked all the boxes so far in the current campaign. Wins over Milford, Douglas and Meelin saw them top Group 1, with +30 scoring difference and the highest score posted across all three groups. 

CONSISTENT

They averaged over 26 points per game, which represented very solid form. After a long break, the Shanagarry side really settled into their semi final midway through their first half against Nemo Rangers and ran out winners by 1-19 to 1-12.

Opponents St Catherine's experienced great joy as they bounced back to win the Munster title following last season's sub-par County Final appearance against Erin's Own. 

The personnel has changed a bit since this time last year, but a number of exciting players have broken through and made a big impression. 

After going down to Glen Rovers, they got back on track with a 0-25 to 0-18 win over St Finbarr's and then booked a knockout place courtesy of their 1-20 to 0-21 win over Argideen Rangers. Two more tough games followed, a 0-19 to 0-17 win over Milford and 0-18 to 1-14 against Ballygarvan.