Senior A hurling permutations: Three through but lots to play for
Blarney's Darragh Murphy and Watergrasshill's Patrick Cronin tussle for possession during their SAHC clash in Grenagh last year. Picture: David Keane
The beauty of the championship system employed in the Cork county championships is that there is always something to play for in the final round of group games, even when it seems like there is not.
That is proven by the state of play in Group 1 of the Co-op SuperStores Senior A Hurling Championship, which concludes with six games taking place on Saturday evening, all with a throw-in time of 5.30pm.
On the face of it, things are cut and dried: Blarney and Watergrasshill have both beaten Ballyhea and Castlelyons, meaning that the two qualification spots are sorted. However, the order of first and second is all-important – victory in Grenagh will yield a direct passage to the semi-finals whereas defeat would set up a tricky quarter-final tie.
Blarney, the beaten finalists of 2023 and 2024, have a six-point scoring-difference advantage and so would take top spot if they draw with the Hill, who have built on last year’s good showing in the wake of winning county, Munster and All-Ireland intermediate honours.
The other game in the group also has something riding on it, even if neither Ballyhea nor Castlelyons can now reach the knockout stages.
Castlelyons serve as an example of narrow the margins are in terms of chasing success. In last year’s final replay, they led Bride Rovers by six points with ten minutes left before being reeled in; then, in this year’s opener, it looked like they had secured victory over Blarney before Mark Coleman’s late goal from a free turned things around.
Defeat to Watergrasshill a fortnight ago ended hopes of advancing but they must still avoid defeat in Mallow on Saturday evening to ensure that the spectre of the relegation play-off is extinguished.
In Group 2, Erin’s Own – relegated from premier senior last year – have the luxury of knowing that first place is theirs regardless of what happens against Fermoy in Rathcormac; however, they will be keen to make it three wins from three to take an automatic last-four place. Fermoy need at least a draw to avoid the relegation play-off.
The other game, between Killeagh and Na Piarsaigh in Midleton, is to all intents and purposes a preliminary quarter-final. Both have lost to Erin’s Own and beaten Fermoy, leaving them on two points each, though Na Piarsaigh have fared better on the scoring-difference front and so a draw would give them the runners-up spot behind the Caherlag outfit.
Group 3 is finely poised, the only one where all four sides still retain the chance of qualification for the latter stages.
Last year’s premier intermediate champions Ballinhassig top the table on three points, having followed a draw against Courcey Rovers with a win against Inniscarra. They take on Carrigtwohill in Páirc Uí Rinn, knowing that a win or a draw will be enough to secure first place; there is even a chance that defeat would not torpedo their hopes.
If that were to happen, they would need Courceys to beat Inniscarra in Carrigaline, but with a slender enough margin that would not overtake the Blues.
An Inniscarra win would definitely send them through – and in first place if Carrig were to beat Ballinhassig, as the Muskerry outfit would have head-to-head advantage.
Blarney v Watergrasshill, Grenagh; Ballyhea v Castlelyons, Mallow; Erin’s Own v Fermoy, Rathcormac; Killeagh v Na Piarsaigh, Midleton; Ballinhassig v Carrigtwohill, Páirc Uí Rinn; Courcey Rovers v Inniscarra, Carrigaline.
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