Carrigdhoun Umbrellas At The Ready

JJ Hurley

With the weekend weather providing the usual St Patrick Day showers, patrons will be in no hurry to bin the brolly for the upcoming match programmes. 

If you consider Thursday to be part of that programme, two games were down for decision, as Carrigaline lost out to Newscestown in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 football league.

The all-important goal arrived on 37 minutes, proving to be the decisive score of the evening.

Locally, Ballymartle had a two-point victory over Shamrocks in Riverstick in the South East Junior A Football League.

Saturday has an exciting clash as last year's beaten County Junior A Football semi-finalist, Ballygarvan, take on Carrigaline on home territory on Saturday at 10.45 am.

On Monday, Courcey Rovers are home to Valley Rovers at 4.15 pm. It has been a while since the Ballinspittle outfit has featured in the playoffs of the divisional football competitions.

The rest of the week sees a return to the hurling competitions with the following fixtures: March 19th, JAHL Ballygarvan v Courcey Rovers at 8 m and Ballymartle v Tracton at 7.30 pm. Friday, March 22nd, JAHL Carrigaline v Kilbrittain 8 pm. Sunday, March 24th, JAHL Shamrocks v Belgooly at 3 pm. Sunday, March 24th, JAHL Valley Rovers v Ballinhassig at 3 pm.

All eyes will be on Pairc Tailteann as Cork footballers hope to continue on the road to recovery as they face old rivals Meath at 2 pm on Saturday.

Hopefully, spending a few days in the sun will do the trick, and Cork will emerge on the right side of a winner-takes-all encounter.

It's nice to see several local young footballers making the U20 county squad. Billy Curtain, Valley Rovers, Gearoid Kearney, Kinsale, and Kieran McCarthy Carrigaline have all made the grade.