County Exit Sees Championships Resume this Weekend

Post date: Jul 9, 2014 6:27:46 PM

With Galway in action for the last three weekend's there has been little club action. That all changes with their exit at the hands of Tipperary and Mágh Cuilinn are straight into Intermediate Championship action this coming weekend against Oranmore Maree in Pearse Stadium. As with the last two weekends it is a 7pm Saturday night throw-in. With both teams losing their opening group games by narrow margins, a win is essential for both teams if they are to keep some control of their destiny in the Championship. A draw in the other group fixture between Kilconieron and Cappatagle would see the loser eliminated from the Championship.

July has been a rough month so far results wise. Having kept their Championship hopes alive on the last day of June with a win over Ballygar, our U16 team travelled to Carnmore to try to secure a Championship play-off. A total of three players on holiday, four on the injury list and 5 others marked absent including 6 regular starters meant that a panel of 27 was left with the bare 15. Despite this and a long delay waiting for a referee, the deep put in a brave performance. Under pressure in the first half, a goal that dropped in from distance kept Mágh Cuilinn within one point but two clearcut goal chances were among the few chances that came added to a 20 metre free which was saved. Fionn McDonagh in goal though had a busy half too. Play in the second half was end to end but two goals midway through the half put Carnmore in the driving seat. A goal for Mágh Cuilinn similar to that in the first was a poor return for the 3/4 other occasions they were through on the goalkeeper. The game ended 2-08 to 2-04 to Carnmore meaning Mágh Cuilinn now have to focus on the Shield competition. Four points was most Mágh Cuilinn lost by in any game but whether winning or losing were always without key players through injury or family holidays and the first key to success is having all your players available when needed.

Monday was a doubly disappointing day. One of our highest rank teams, the U13s met a strong Sarsfields side in an attempt to secure a semi-final spot. Level at half time the tabletoppers pulled away to win 4-08 to 3-02. The U13's still have one (much postponed) game against Killimordaly to play to obtain the one point they need to qualify. Killimordaly also have a game pending against Kilconieron, a game Kilconieron need to win to force Mágh Cuilinn into a playoff.

Also on Monday, in a rare outing to Beagh (normally Kilbeacanty) our Minors had a nightmare evening against Michael Cusack's going down by 8-11 to 0-07. The result does not reflect the team's ability, although it is not the first time they have leaked goals this year. The team's met at the Group stage at U16 which also saw 8 goals scored although Mágh Cuilinn had some share in them on that occasion, in fact the aggregate score then was also 8-18, Mágh Cuilinn losing by eight points. In a group that sees 4 from 6 qualify, Mágh Cuilinn's remaining game is effectively a straight shootout for fourth spot in the remaining game against Oranmore Maree.