Carrigdhoun teams learn their fate as Ballinhassig to predict Champions

(JJ Hurley)

The Junior A Hurling and Football sides in the Carrigdhoun division learned their faith in the Championship draws this week, as Ballinhassig are set to host a star-studded panel in predicting this year’s All-Ireland hurling winners.

A fine representation from all the divisional clubs were gripped in silence at the Huntsman Bar, Belgooly, as Brian Tobin from Ross Oil drew out the opponents in this year’s Carrigdhoun championships.

While the championships proper will not get underway until late July and early August, with the footballers leading out the competitions, already the chatter about potential champions as begun gathering momentum.

In the hurling competition, Belgooly and Valley Rovers will lead the charge but chairman of Belgooly, Kevin Corkery says his side are only focused in getting out of the group that also features Courcey Rovers and Kinsale.

The second group features Ballymartle, Valley Rovers and Shamrocks, with punters remembering the junior A Hurling final of 2021 and 2022, when Valleys and Ballymartle faced off.

Some of the players who attended the SE Junior A Football and Hurling Championships draws at the Huntsman Bar, Belgooly, last week.

 Both sides now have an influx of underage players, including Charlie Twohig, Eoin Guinane, Leo Hennessy and Ronan Sheehan, but Denis O’ Donovan and Martin McCarthy from the Valleys were not accepting at all their tags as one of the joint favourites for the competition.

The other group is made up of Ballinhassig, Carrigaline and Ballygarvan, with any of these sides capable of delivering a shock on a good day, as Belgooly almost found out to their cost in last year’s championship against Carrigaline.

Ballygarvan will be hoping to put the misery of last year’s county final behind them, losing out to a late Inniscarra point, favourites coming into this year’s football competition, they are featuring in the same group as Ballinhassig and Shamrocks.

In last year’s championship, the introduction of substitute Kevin Lyons had to rescue Ballygarvan as they faced down the barrel of a defeat to Ballinhassig, as Lyons helped to deliver two goals in as many minutes.

Should Ballinhassig have both Adam and Darragh O’Sullivan fit for the championship and to be  joined by the return of Ritchie Lombard, the Blues might have a say in this championship yet.

Carrigaline and Valleys will always be dangerous and with one eye on returning to the senior championship, Carrigaline may have not been as focused on the final as they might have liked to have been in 2024

No one will forget the return of the evergreen Nicholas Murphy last year, and one wonders will the Crosshaven Road outfit spring a similar surprise this year?

Ballymartle are another side capable of causing an upset, and club chairman Don Lordan said at the recent draws that he expected his charges to be at the business end of the championship in August.

It's certainly going to be a competitive year in both the Procure.ie sponsored Junior A Football Championship and The Ross Oil Junior A Sponsored Hurling Championship.

On who lifts Liam Mac later in the Summer, Ballinhassig GAA are bringing a star-studded panel to town on April 28th in the Marian Hall, Ballinhassig at 7.30pm to gaze into their crystal ball and decide the outcome.

Joining the line up is Anthony Daly, T J Ryan, Shane McGrath and Cork’s own winning All—Ireland captain, Mark Landers.  Having to keep the lads in check is Ballinhassig native and Rté presenter Jacqui Hurley.

RTÉ's Jacqui Hurley set to put the panel through their paces at the upcoming All-Ireland preview in Ballinhassig

In what promises to be a fantastic night’s entertainment, there could be some interesting conversations as the result of Cork’s opening clash with Clare will have been known.

Interestingly, the following day will see the Rebels line out at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork’s second game of the Munster series and one wonders if Noel McGrath can see Tipp making a recovery here, following their recent defeat in the league final.

The Carrigdhoun Newspaper also understands that there is to be a special guest on the night, but the identity is being kept secret.

There are some tickets available from the club but they are going extremely quickly.

All monies raised are going to purchase gym equipment for the players at the new facilities at the club.  

South East Draws

Junior B Football Championship

Group 1: Tracton, Valley Rovers, Ballygarvan, Carrigaline

Group 2: Kinsale, Belgooly, Ballinhassig, Crosshaven

Junior B Hurling Championship

Group 1: Ballygarvan, Crosshaven, Tracton

Group 2: Kinsale, Ballinhassig, Carrigaline, Valley Rovers.

Procure.ie SE Junior A Football Championship 2025: 

Group 1: Ballygarvan Ballinhassig Shamrocks

Group 2: Courcey Rovers Ballymartle Valley Rovers Carrigaline

Ross Oil SE Junior A Hurling Championship 2025:

Group 1: Kinsale Belgooly Courcey Rovers

Group 2: Ballymartle Valley Rovers Shamrocks

Group 3: Ballinhassig Carrigaline Ballygarvan