Muskerry GAA: Fascinating end in store to JAHC group stages 

The final group games in the MJK Oils Muskerry JAHC takes place this weekend.

If you are wearing a neutral hat, it couldn’t be more exciting, which is great, given there had been just one team who were ahead of the pack for the last number of years.

Ballinora, the team going for five-in-a-row in terms of divisional titles, have work to do and will also need a favour elsewhere to give themselves their best chance of advancing. 

For the last number of years, they had it mostly their own way, mainly down to their quality and also maybe the chasing pack were not at the desired levels to really challenge Ballinora.

It’s important to note that there was a change to the hurling group format in Muskerry this year with two groups consisting of five teams, more games and more jeopardy.

The lie of the land at present is that it’s out of Ballinora’s hands to qualify out of Group 2. Grenagh are top on six points with a scoring difference of +28.

Dripsey and Ballinora are tied on four points, and despite the former having a worse scoring difference than Ballinora, +7 to +12, Dripsey have the head-to-head.

That’s because of their sensational win over the holders two weeks ago on a scoreline of 4-13 to 1-10. It simply blew the group wide open.

Ballinora would agree that they aren’t going as well this year compared to previous campaigns. There’s still time for that to change and they could see the heavy loss a fortnight ago as a key turning point.

They were simply blown out of the water by a Dripsey team who knew a win was the only option to keep their hopes alive. It’s a special year for them given it’s 20 years since they were formed after their high-profile split from Inniscarra.

They take on Éire Óg’s second team on Sunday in Kilmichael at 3pm. By that stage, they will know what’s required.

Tomorrow, a heavyweight clash in Ovens between Ballinora and Grenagh (5pm).

If Grenagh and Dripsey win, both will qualify for the knockout stages.

If Ballinora and Éire Óg win, it will be Ballinora and Grenagh progressing.

If Ballinora and Dripsey win, three teams will be tied on six points, therefore scoring difference will apply.

If both games are a draw, Dripsey have the head-to-head over Ballinora.

While all the attention is on that group and you can see the reasoning behind it, Group 1 is also very interesting.

Donoughmore are through going into the final round of group games with six points from three games so far.

Joining them will be a second team, either from Ballincollig, Inniscarra or Blarney. At the moment, the Collig are second on four points with the other two tied on three points.

Donoughmore lock horns with Blarney on Sunday in Grenagh at 3pm while four hours later, Ballincollig take on Inniscarra in Cloughduv in what could well be a winner-takes-all game.