Three county U21 A football championship quarter-finals down for decision tomorrow

The McCarthy Insurance Group county U21 A football championship gets underway this weekend with a few games down for decision.

This season marks the first time since the 2019 campaign that the county series will run at this particular grade. They were shelved due to the split season, which was brought in four years ago.

The last county championship game played at U21 level was on January, 5 2020 when St Michael’s defeated Ballincollig in the A final. It was supposed to be played towards the end of 2019, but due to a combination of factors, it was pushed out to the new year.

The divisional championships took place at the start of this year with the majority of the finals wrapped up by February. The Imokilly decider didn’t get played until end of August when Aghada beat Glenville and the Avondhu version didn’t get finished until two weeks ago as Mallow saw off Clyda Rovers after extra time.

Three county U21 A football championship quarter-finals are on tomorrow at 2pm.

In Kealkill, Bantry Blues, who ended a 12-year wait for Carbery glory this year following victory over Ibane Gaels (Argideen Rangers and Barryroe), take on divisional side Beara in what is an eye-catching game.

This really has all the makings of a very entertaining game with really talented players on both sides. This will be Beara’s first game this year. 

Cork U20 footballer Dara Sheedy is Bantry’s chief scorer, but he will be ably supported by the likes of Paddy Cronin and Luke Salter-Townsend. At the back, captain Dara McCarthy and Cork U20 Mark Óg O’Sullivan will try to shore up the defence.

Beara have no shortage of firepower themselves with Castletownbere’s Fintan Fenner and Adrigole’s Ben O’Sullivan excellent footballers.

The winners of this one will meet either Duarigle Gaels or Valley Rovers in the last four.

Those sides meet in Macroom in what should be a close contest. Duarigle Gaels, an underage amalgamation of Millstreet and Cullen, will be looking to the likes of Alan O’Leary and Evan O’Sullivan to fire them over the line. The pair really shone in the Duhallow decider win over BK Plunkett’s (Knocknagree and Boherbue).

Valley Rovers defeated a fancied Carrigaline side in the Carrigdhoun final, but that was way back in February, so it will be fascinating to see how they fare here. Charlie O’Sullivan and Jonathan Kenneally were brilliant in defence in that decider, while Adam Casey, Ciarán McCarthy and Eoin Guinane were effective in the forward department.

The final county quarter-final encounter down for decision tomorrow in the A grade is the meeting of Mallow and Bishopstown in Mourneabbey. As mentioned at the start, the team in red and yellow only won their divisional title a fortnight ago, so they will have momentum behind them. On the other hand, Bishopstown won the city trophy back in February when they beat Nemo Rangers by a point after extra time, 2-9 to 0-15.

Conor Dunne hit 1-4 (0-4 f) that day and will be a key player again up front along with Gary Holland and Kieran McFadden. Defender Odhran Foley was Player of the Match against Nemo and will be tasked with keeping Mallow’s forwards quiet, if possible.

Sam Copps, Gearóid Daly, Trevor Kiely, Mark Kelleher and Mark Tobin are some of Mallow’s instrumental players.

The winners face either Muskerry side Ballinora or Imokilly’s Aghada in the semi-final. That fixture is down for tomorrow week in Caherlag at 2pm.

There is one quarter-final game from the B championship taking place tomorrow with Sliabh Luachra Gaels (Ballydesmond and Kiskeam) meeting Ballinhassig in Carrigadrohid at 2pm.