The Hurler On The Ditch: Carrigdhoun GAA Division

The Hurler On The Ditch: Carrigdhoun GAA Division Writes JJ Hurely

A busy week in the Carrigdhoun GAA Division began with the junior A hurling and football championship draws taking place in the Five Mile Inn on Monday night last week. With all the clubs eagerly awaiting their fate, South East Chairman, Pat Desmond, thanked the clubs for supporting the retention of the divisional championship, despite the efforts of the county board to replace it with a county-based championship. With last year’s championships proving to be extremely competitive, it’s expected that the games down for decision will prove as exciting in 2017. Monday night’s first round draws certainly threw up a number of mouthwatering encounters, with Tracton facing Carrigaline, Ballinhassig playing Ballymartle and, reigning champions, Shamrocks, set to play Belgooly in the opening round of the junior A football championship, sponsored by the Five Mile Inn Bar and Restaurant. Also eagerly awaited in the Good Fish Company sponsored junior A hurling championship, last year’s winners, Valley Rovers, have a tough encounter with Shamrocks, if they are to progress in the competition. The full list of draws in the Good Fish Company junior A hurling championship include Ballymartle v Tracton, Shamrocks v Valley Rovers, Ballinhassig v Courcey Rovers, and Ballygarvan v Kinsale. In the Five Mile Inn sponsored football championship in the preliminary round Ballygarvan will play Valley Rovers and in the first round proper Courcey Rovers v Winners of the preliminary round, Ballygarvan v Valley Rovers, Carrigaline v Tracton Belgooly v Shamrocks, and Ballinhassig v Ballymartle. However, before this competition gets underway, the coming weekend will see the U21 B football championship reaching its conclusion, when Ballymartle face Shamrocks in Ballygarvan on Sunday next at 1pm. Ballymartle will go into the game as favourites – having easily disposed of Courcey Rovers in the semi-final – but don’t write off the Shanbally outfit, who have the capacity to cause an upset . Reflecting on some of the last seven day’s activities, Kinsale footballers were defeated by Glenville by a four- point margin in the intermediate football championship, with Carrigaline footballers and Ballinhassig hurlers losing out to Nemo Rangers and Cloyne respectively league in their league competitions. The big game for the locals at the weekend will see Carrigaline facing city-side Bishopstown at Ballygarvan on Saturday next April 22nd, when the two teams lock horns at 18.30 in the county football championship. While Ballymartle highflyers, who are currently top of their league, face Glen Rovers in the city venue on Sunday next at 7pm Finally, congratulations to the Kinsale junior camoige team who made their debut in the county C league competition during the week. Under the guidance of Brian Murphy, Dunderrow, Noel O’Sullivan and Eithne Duggan, the girls are expected to make steady progress.