Cork football talking points ahead of club final showdowns with Kerry champions

We're hoping this time next week we are not having the seemingly annual 'we need to talk about Kerry teams' grading' conversation, on the back of the three Old Firm provincial club football deciders.

The fact that Cork have more has two senior and two intermediate grades ensures that the third tier champions in Cork invariably face off against the second tier Kerry kingpins. At Junior level the gap is bigger, as the champions in Cork’s fifth grade play the winners of the third grade in Kerry.

Notwithstanding the discrepancy between the way the counties structure their grades, we can expect to see some close ties this time.

The weekend kicks off with high-flying Buttevant making the short trip south through Newtwopothouse to Mallow to face off against Kerry champions Ballymacelligott in the Munster Junior Final.

The Avondhu side will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Kilmurry, who famously were crowned Munster Junior champions in Rathkeale against Kerry outfit Firies last year, despite being reduced to thirteen men in that final.

Buttevant’s opponents Ballymacelligott looked goal hungry in their semi-final victory over Clonmel Óg, with Donal Daly and Jack Joy blasting a brace each in the 4-12 to 2-9 win.

Buttevant will be confident that they have the firepower to trouble their opponents though. 

It was Mark Lenahan’s turn to grab the headlines in the semi-final win over Ahane, whereas David and Conor Hanlon had done so in the quarter-final against Waterford side Shamrocks, with hauls of 2-5 and 1-7.

They will also be proud of the fact that they did not concede a goal in either of those fixtures, while they also kept a clean sheet in the county final triumph over St Nick’s. If they can repeat that trick, they will take beating.

COMPETITIVE

Aghabullogue are then in action in the Intermediate Final on Saturday evening against an An Ghaeltacht side that are seen as hot favourites, with them being 2/9 with the bookies to win the game, and with Aghabullogue being given a six-point target to chase in the handicap betting.

We can certainly expect to get a more competitive final than last year when Austin Stacks from Tralee trounced Tipperary’s Aherlow by a cringe-inducing scoreline of 7-7 to 0-2. Kilshannig put up better resistance in the semi but were still outgunned 1-12 to 0-6.

The Cork side don't have to look far for inspiration. They will be well aware that Cill na Martra were crowned Munster champions two years ago at this grade, defeating Kingdom opposition, in the form of Milltown/Castlemaine, en route.

It can be done.

An Ghaeltacht only had to win one game to reach this decider, defeating Clare’s Corofin by 1-13 to 0-11 in the semi-final. Aghabullogue, meanwhile, had two outings, and they had five and four points to spare, respectively, over Thurles Sarsfields from Tipperary and Limerick side Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan.

On paper, they certainly look more evenly matched than the bookies' odds might suggest.

IMPRESSIVE

The senior decider is on Sunday up in Semple Stadium in Thurles, where the 2023 runners-ups Dingle again face Cork opposition.

Two years ago, we had the Roy of the Rovers display by Damien Cahalane at the Gaelic Grounds, as the Cork hurler went into nets for the decisive penalty shootout and inspired Castlehaven to a famous triumph, by saving a crucial penalty before smashing in the winner himself.

It is hard to ignore the great irony that the Kerry side lost to three Barrs hurlers that year. 

How will they fare against 15 Barrs footballers this time around?

Dingle are slight favourites to atone for two years ago, but the Barrs will fancy their chances to add a sixth Munster crown to their already impressive roll of honour, which would not be bad going for a club that has only won 11 Cork county titles with the big ball.

To put that into some perspective, they have 26 senior county titles in hurling, and four Munster titles. Though a lot of those counties were landed before the provincial series started. 

I would imagine most neutral observers would have assumed that the Barrs had more hurling provincial medals in the clubhouse than football ones.

A win would be a wonderful way for the Barrs to head into the 150th year of the club’s existence, with a provincial title in the bag and looking towards a possible fourth All-Ireland.