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Club Championships 2018-19

Hammer Archer

So end of the intercounty season means that the real business of the club championships are going to take centre stage.

In the Meath senior football championships, after the ridiculously convoluted group stages, we've reached the quarter final stages this weekend.

Summerhill v St. Colmcille's
Summerhill were last years beaten finalists while Cilles narrowly avoided a relegation playoff having reached the 2017 All Ireland Intermediate final. Summerhill topped their group while Cilles came second to Ratoath. Should be a very interesting game. Summerhill have the experience over Cilles but Cilles will have the likes of Graham Reilly, Ben Brennan and James Conlon in the forward line who'd be a handful for any defence. Think the 'Hill will have enough to get by.

Dunboyne v Gaeil Colmcille
The Kells side beat Wolfe Tones in the preliminary quarter final just last night. They were also involved in an intermediate hurling quarter final on Saturday meaning a lot of their players will be playing their third knockout game in 7 days. Dunboyne are favourites for the championship and were comfortably top of their group while never really impressing. I'd say they're slowly building as the season goes on and I'd expect them to account for Gaeil Colmcille. Kells however have a habit of causing upsets in quarter finals.

Skryne v Simonstown Gaels
Simonstown are going for their third championship in a row after winning their first ever in 2016. Skryne came close to ending their 80 year uninterrupted stint in Senior football by being involved in a relegation playoff last year. They're a different side this year with Darragh Campion and Paddy O'Rourke scoring freely in the forwards. Simonstown were without the likes of Padraic McKeever and Seán Tobin for the majority of the group stage but rumour has it they're back in the team for the weekend. But Skryne are flying at the moment and I can see them ending Simonstown's reign as champions.

Ratoath v Donaghmore/Ashbourne
Massive local derby in this game. Ratoath topped their group while Ashbourne came third in theirs. Both sets of players will know each other very well with lots of them being involved in underage finals over the last 10 years or so. Ratoath have the likes of the Wallaces and Conor McGill while Don/Ash have Brian Menton and Andrew Tormey in their ranks. Neither team has yet reached the adult heights that their recent underage successes have promised but the winner of this game will have an excellent chance of making the final at least. Don/Ash's experience of winning knockout games to count here.

Semis predictions are:
Dunboyne - Skryne
Don/Ash - Summerhill

Dunboyne to win it outright, finally.

In the hurling, it's at the semi final stage.

Ratoath v Kiltale
Ratoath haven't reached the senior hurling final since 1969 but topped the group while beating Kiltale along the way. In Gavin McGowan, they have probably the most lethal forward in the county. Kiltale, on the other hand, are going for their 5th title in a row and their 6th in 7 years. But they only scraped through the group stages in 4th winning only 2 of their 5 games. But they were back on form in their last two games against Killyon and Longwood, scoring 8-40 and conceding only 18 points. They're peaking at the right time and can't see Ratoath getting a second win against them.

Trim v Kildalkey
Trim came second in the weaker group B but managed to overcome Killyon in the quarter final. They're getting their main players back to fitness and will definitely put it up to Kildalkey. But Kildalkey will feel they left last year's championship behind them and I can't see them not making the final.

Kiltale seem to be coming into form at the right time so I'd tip them to win their 5 in a row against Kildalkey in the final.

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RMAOK

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Thomass just that bit sharper and clinical so far.

Thomas's seem that have a bit more hurling in them than cushendall.

Was it a penalty for cushendall in the first few minutes? Thanks thought the foul was just outside the square.

RMAOK

jr86 wrote: »

Gearoid McInerney Darragh fitzgibbon

Two former all Stars on the line as well in Ben O'Connor and Gerry McInerney.

jr86

Gearoid McInerney Darragh fitzgibbon

tanko

jr86 wrote: »

Noel Hickey still going strong at 38

Should be a serious intermediate final too. Not too often you see two all stars over past two seasons coming up against each other at that level

Who are the two all stars?

jr86

PTH2009 wrote: »

Never thought I see a Monaghan vs Kilkenny decider in a hurling match

AI junior Hurling club final- Castleblaney (Monaghan) vs Dunnamagin (Kilkenny)

Massive for hurling in Monaghan

Noel Hickey still going strong at 38

Should be a serious intermediate final too. Not too often you see two all stars over past two seasons coming up against each other at that level

PTH2009

Never thought I see a Monaghan vs Kilkenny decider in a hurling match

AI junior Hurling club final- Castleblaney (Monaghan) vs Dunnamagin (Kilkenny)

Massive for hurling in Monaghan

[Deleted User]

El Weirdo wrote: »

Think they're only being shown online.

In previous years they have been on the AIB YouTube channel

El Weirdo

GAA Beo wrote: »

TG4 are showing the hurling, why are the IFC and JFC football finals on the same time?

Think they're only being shown online.

GAA Beo

TG4 are showing the hurling, why are the IFC and JFC football finals on the same time?

RMAOK

funkey_monkey wrote: »

Who is likely to come out of these? Anyone expecting Cushendall to get the better of At. Thomas?
The second game looks the more interesting out of the two.

The last time Thomas's were at this stage, they played ballyea from Clare - they never hurled properly until well into the second half. In 2013 they played another northern team and had to go to a replay before getting over the line. That being said, Thomas's should win - watch out for fintan Burke playing at centre back, captain of the u-21's last year. He's the makings of a serious prospect for Galway imo. As well as David Burke and Conor Cooney, Thomas's have a load of lads who have played (or are currently playing) inter county. Thomas's to win by 5.

The second match is very interesting and is hard to call, but if tj Reid isn't man marked tightly by ballygunner, then he could have a field day. Same goes for padraic Mahoney for ballygunner. Ballyhale to win by 4

dr.kenneth noisewater

funkey_monkey wrote:

Also, will TG4 be showing these games?

TG4 showing both live

GalwayLurker

tanko wrote: »

What are the pitch and stands like in Carrick-on-shannon?
Would Sligo not be a better venue for the football semi.

County standard, good size stand and decent pitch. I believe Sligo wasn't up for consideration because of work being done on the pitch, don't know if that's right or not, just what I heard.

tanko

What are the pitch and stands like in Carrick-on-shannon?
Would Sligo not be a better venue for the football semi.

PTH2009

2018/19 Junior and Intermediate finals

AI Club Junior Football final- Sat 9th Feb
Beaufort (Kerry) vs Easkey (Sligo)- Croke Park

AI Club Intermediate Football final- Sat 9th Feb
Kilcummin (Kerry) vs Naomh Eanna (Antrim)- Croke Park

AI Club Junior Hurling final- Sun 10th Feb
Castleblayney (Monaghan) vs Dunnamaggin (Kilkenny)- Croke Park

AI Club Intermediate Hurling final- Sun 10th Feb
Charlevile (Cork) vs Oranmore-Maree (Galway)- Croke Park

AI Club Senior Semi finals 2018/19

Senior Hurling semi finals
St Thomas (Galway) vs Cushendall (Antrim)- Sat 9th Feb Parnell Park Dublin 3pm
Ballygunner (Waterford) vs Ballyhale Shamrocks (Kilkenny)- Sat 9th Feb Semple Stadium Thurles 5pm

Senior Football semi finals
Corofin (Galway) vs Gweedore (Donegal)- Sat 16th Feb Carrick on Shannon 1.30pm
Dr Crokes (Kerry) vs Mullinalaghta (Longford)- Sat 16th Feb Semple Stadium 3.30pm

The Talking Bread

MfMan wrote: »

God knows, it's about the only half-interesting category at the Sports Awards this year; struggling to think of any other notable sporting achievement for 2018.

Eh, the womens hockey team (amateurs who barely get a competitive game all year round on a sport barely recognised here and have f all funds) beating professional teams and getting to the world cup final despite being almost last (if not last seeded team)

I'm sorry but that surpasses that.

megadodge

jr86 wrote: »

But the geographical spread they can pick from in theory spreads beyond Caltra itself and out into bits of castleblakeney, Fohenagh, Ballymacward. I've never heard of Caltra struggling to field a team and they've had decent underage success at times

Kiltormer meanwhile have a tiny pocket to choose from (as their neighbouring areas are all hurling clubs) and were relegated only 3/4 years after winning the AI. I remember Justin Campbell saying it was a one in a lifetime occurrence that they happened to get a bare 15 of class hurlers together. Until they had to amalgamate underage to survive you'd very rarely see them playing above C level the past few years

I'm not denying Kiltormer's was a fantastic achievement, but I was originally replying to your assertion that Caltra wasn't a good comparison to Mulinalaghta. It certainly is. And Kiltormer is also.

Justin Campbell's assertion that it was a once in a lifetime event is correct, but it's no different than Caltra who without one particular family would probably never have won an Intermediate county title. And there are quite a few examples over the years of small clubs winning the All-Ireland and fading into relative obscurity thereafter thanks to a golden generation.

MfMan

EICVD wrote: »

As many teams deserve the ‘team of the year’ this year (4 in a row champs for me) it’s a worthy discussion point, it’s a pointless conversation though when it’ll come to the awards. Saturday night will be the Rugby awards with highlights of the rest of the years sport thrown in!

God knows, it's about the only half-interesting category at the Sports Awards this year; struggling to think of any other notable sporting achievement for 2018.

EICVD

feargale wrote: »

The pitch will be very crowded this year when it comes to choosing the team of 2018. You have rightly mentioned Mullinalaghta. But the competition includes Dublin's four-in- a-row, Limerick hurlers, the women's under-20 athletics relay team, and yes, the Ireland rugby team. To judge by the rugby flags flying these days in places such as Loop Head and Connemara, your rugby brethren are the darlings of more than Dublin 4.
But with the utmost respect to Mullinalaghta and the others for me the team of the year is our women's hockey team, the first Irish team to take world silver.
The journey is not over for Mullinalaghta or the Ireland rugby team. Let's hope we are talking about both of them when it comes to picking the team of 2019.
I will root for any team, even a tiddlywinks team, if they are wearing green jerseys.

As many teams deserve the ‘team of the year’ this year (4 in a row champs for me) it’s a worthy discussion point, it’s a pointless conversation though when it’ll come to the awards. Saturday night will be the Rugby awards with highlights of the rest of the years sport thrown in!

rm75

washman3 wrote: »

An absolutely outstanding achievement by the Longford men,especially in this day and age when everything seems to be in favour of the big clubs.
For me,they should be the automatic choice for Ireland's team of the year.
Unfortunately,that title seems to be reserved for our rugby brethren, the darlings of the D4 media.

Agree 100%

feargale

washman3 wrote: »

An absolutely outstanding achievement by the Longford men,especially in this day and age when everything seems to be in favour of the big clubs.
For me,they should be the automatic choice for Ireland's team of the year.
Unfortunately,that title seems to be reserved for our rugby brethren, the darlings of the D4 media.

The pitch will be very crowded this year when it comes to choosing the team of 2018. You have rightly mentioned Mullinalaghta. But the competition includes Dublin's four-in- a-row, Limerick hurlers, the women's under-20 athletics relay team, and yes, the Ireland rugby team. To judge by the rugby flags flying these days in places such as Loop Head and Connemara, your rugby brethren are the darlings of more than Dublin 4.
But with the utmost respect to Mullinalaghta and the others for me the team of the year is our women's hockey team, the first Irish team to take world silver.
The journey is not over for Mullinalaghta or the Ireland rugby team. Let's hope we are talking about both of them when it comes to picking the team of 2019.
I will root for any team, even a tiddlywinks team, if they are wearing green jerseys.

[Deleted User]

They need to split Mullinaghta in two.........oh wait!

CrabRevolution

Fair play to St. Columbas! There was a lot of crying in Meath about how Dunboyne, one of the biggest clubs in the most densely populated part of Meath never stood a chance against Crokes and that we all may give up because of these Dublin superclubs. Didn't seem to faze the Longford men.

As an aside-Someday someone will come up with an equation which displays the ratio of the success of a team, to how small the parish is, to how much the low population is mentioned. Mullinalaghta seems to get smaller and smaller every time I've read a match report. By the time the All Ireland final comes around they probably won't have a big enough population to field a team.

jr86

megadodge wrote: »

I think Caltra is a very good example.

I'm open to correction here, but as far as I know Caltra is only a half-parish with Ahascragh which is very hurling oriented. They have a small pick and the year they won the All-Ireland was on foot of the only County senior title they have ever won.

I went to school with two of the Meehans so I always kept an eye on Caltra and I remember when they won the County INTERMEDIATE title sometime in the mid to late 1990s I thought that was a marvellous achievement for such a small club, which ought to give some perspective on how big winning an All-Ireland Senior title was a few years later.

But the geographical spread they can pick from in theory spreads beyond Caltra itself and out into bits of castleblakeney, Fohenagh, Ballymacward. I've never heard of Caltra struggling to field a team and they've had decent underage success at times

Kiltormer meanwhile have a tiny pocket to choose from (as their neighbouring areas are all hurling clubs) and were relegated only 3/4 years after winning the AI. I remember Justin Campbell saying it was a one in a lifetime occurrence that they happened to get a bare 15 of class hurlers together. Until they had to amalgamate underage to survive you'd very rarely see them playing above C level the past few years

Utopia Parkway

megadodge wrote: »

I think Caltra is a very good example.

I'm open to correction here, but as far as I know Caltra is only a half-parish with Ahascragh which is very hurling oriented. They have a small pick and the year they won the All-Ireland was on foot of the only County senior title they have ever won.

I went to school with two of the Meehans so I always kept an eye on Caltra and I remember when they won the County INTERMEDIATE title sometime in the mid to late 1990s I thought that was a marvellous achievement for such a small club, which ought to give some perspective on how big winning an All-Ireland Senior title was a few years later.

You're correct. Caltra is a half parish of Ahascragh and Ahascragh itself is purely hurling oriented.

washman3

An absolutely outstanding achievement by the Longford men,especially in this day and age when everything seems to be in favour of the big clubs.
For me,they should be the automatic choice for Ireland's team of the year.
Unfortunately,that title seems to be reserved for our rugby brethren, the darlings of the D4 media.

The Talking Bread

Whoever owns that Keoghs bar in Mullinalaghta is going to make a serious mint tonight!

megadodge

jr86 wrote: »

Caltra isn't the best example. The village of Caltra is small yes, but they also pick from neighbouring villages, such as Ahascragh and Fohenagh. They would also have gotten a few from Ballymacward over the years

Kiltormer are a much better example in Galway. Won an all Ireland hurling in 92. Tiny parish surrounded by a plethora of other hurling clubs. Can no longer field at underage so had to amalgamate with Mullagh

I think Caltra is a very good example.

I'm open to correction here, but as far as I know Caltra is only a half-parish with Ahascragh which is very hurling oriented. They have a small pick and the year they won the All-Ireland was on foot of the only County senior title they have ever won.

I went to school with two of the Meehans so I always kept an eye on Caltra and I remember when they won the County INTERMEDIATE title sometime in the mid to late 1990s I thought that was a marvellous achievement for such a small club, which ought to give some perspective on how big winning an All-Ireland Senior title was a few years later.

jr86

Caltra isn't the best example. The village of Caltra is small yes, but they also pick from neighbouring villages, such as Ahascragh and Fohenagh. They would also have gotten a few from Ballymacward over the years

Kiltormer are a much better example in Galway. Won an all Ireland hurling in 92. Tiny parish surrounded by a plethora of other hurling clubs. Can no longer field at underage so had to amalgamate with Mullagh

The Talking Bread

blowitupref wrote: »

For a low scoring club game played in December i have to say i enjoyed that competitive Leinster final today.

Well done to Mullinalaghta. Its wasn't a total out of the blue type win as this team has won 3 in a row county titles and have number of good county players across the spine of their team.

Ah, if you had said they have a chance to win a Leinster at the start of the Championship you would be rightly smirked at!

People mention Caltra but Caltra had the excellent Meehans at the time at their peak. Saying that, An Gaeltacht had a third of the Kerry senior team in their ranks at the time also!

blowitupref

For a low scoring club game played in December i have to say i enjoyed that competitive Leinster final today.

Well done to Mullinalaghta. Its wasn't a total out of the blue type win as this team has won 3 in a row county titles and have number of good county players across the spine of their team.