Minane to host deadly dual as Ballymartle face Carrigaline

( JJ Hurley)

It is popcorn at the ready as Ballymartle face Carrigaline in a winner take's all encounter in the Co-op Superstore Premier Intermediate hurling championship on Sunday in Minane Bridge at 2pm.

With Cloyne defeating both SE sides and now sitting pretty top of the table, that also includes Eire Óg, the Carrigdhoun rivals face a do-or-die encounter on Sunday to see who stays in the championship.

For Carrigaline, they will be hoping to draw on the success of their footballers- who recently had a superb victory over Clonakilty in the senior football championship, a point not lost on their coach Eddie Murphy.

‘The football win against Clonakilty was excellent, there are a lot of dual players there, 8 or 9 players, and our victory over Eire Óg rubbed off on the footballers and definitely the victory over Clonakilty has been a boost for everyone,’ he said.

Despite being relegated from division one of the Red FM Hurling Leagues, Eddie is not too worried about it having an effect on their championship form.

‘We were short eight or nine first team players at times in the league, but we blooded a lot of new players, some younger hurlers coming through from minor, we have a good panel and we will just have to sustain any player we are missing,’ Eddie said.

Top of that list is David Griffin, who was instrumental in leading the side from the Crosshaven road to the final where they were beaten by the eventual All-Ireland Champions in 2024.

However, they are not short of decent stick men in their armoury, including the impressive Brian Kelleher, Rob O’ Shea and Pa Mellet.

Joining their ranks has been one of Cork’s most consistent players on the senior football team Brian O’Driscoll, who is also more than capable of swinging a camán.

Murphy is very familiar with many of those in Ballymartle as he led that side to All-Ireland victory, with one of those players, Darren McCarthy dropping back into a familiar roll between the sticks in this year’s championship.

Not that his magic from a late free against Dicksboro at GAA HQ will ever be forgotten in that same year of 2011,

There aren’t too many of that team left lining out, but one name remains a constant, Brian Cory,

With a rising pedigree at underage level not too far away, the first of those starlets to appear is Ryan Deasy, who did himself no harm anchoring the Cork U20 midfield in the season gone by.

Some of the more established players including Shane Cummins and Jack Dwyer will need to be at their best if they are to win this joust.

Despite Ballymartle having the better record over their neighbours, team Bainisteoir, Vincent Murphy, doesn’t accept his charges are favourites going into this contest.

In fact, he suggests they will have to play far better than they have in their opening two games, when they beat Eire Óg but lost out to Cloyne, if they are to remain in the championship.

To call who comes away with the bragging rights, you would want to possess the wisdom of Solomon, and then some!

Other County fixtures:

Co-op Superstore Premier Junior A Championship

Ballygarvan v Argideen Rangers in Macroom on Friday September 5^th at 7.30pm.

Milford V Tracton in Mourneabbey on Friday, September 5^th at 7.30pm.

Co-op Superstore Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Ballinhassig V Kilworth in Rathcormac on Sunday 7^th at 2pm.

Ross Oil South East Junior A Hurling Championship

Saturday September 6th Carrigaline will play Ballygarvan in Crosshaven at 3pm, followed by Shamrocks and Valley Rovers in Minane Bridge at 4pm and Kinsale and Ballymartle clash in Riverstick at 6.45pm. 

Camogie Fixtures

September 5^th Ballinhassig V Watergrasshill Premier Intermediate Camogie Championship at Na Piarsaigh GAA Grounds at 6.45pm. In the same competition Ballygarvan are playing Na Piarsaigh at 6.30pm on Saturday September 6th in Douglas GAA Grounds.

  Eanna Desmond featuring here against a recent encounter with Cloyne in the Coop Superstore PIHC (Bernard Laverty)