Club Championships 2018-19

castletownman wrote: »

Wexford senior hurling semi finals this weekend.

Naomh Eanna vs Oylegate: novel pairing this. Oylegate last played a senior final way back in 1963 (they won it that year), while Gorey have never progressed beyond the semi-final stages- this will be their fourth attempt. Naomh Eanna have won the last two championship meetings between the two, although their last game can be written off as it came in the group stages when Oylegate had already qualified and so rested a few starters.

There was much controversy over Cathal Dunbar's transfer to Gorey at the start of the year, and he has been a huge foil to the excellence of Conor Mac at full-forward. Oylegate have their own dynamic no.14 in the form of Podge Doran, who has scored ten goals already in the championship (rather fitting that Doran be blazing a trail at full-forward for Wexford eh? ) Nerves will surely play a huge factor on the day, and while Doran will take minding and may necessitate a tactical tweak, I still feel Naomh Eanna are on the cusp of making history.

St.Martin's vs Rapparees: both sides looking for a complete turnaround of fortunes after being eliminated in the football semi-finals at the same venue last Sunday. Word on the street is that both camps have been focused on hurling the last couple of weeks, which smacks of hurling snobbery, particularly in the case of Rapparees, who were defending senior football champions.

St.Martin's, by all Chinese Whispers, are set to be without the talismanic Rory O'Connor and will definitely shorn of Jake Firman through suspension. Those absentees will test the belief that they have envious strength in depth. Rapps won three premier minor titles not that long ago, Liam Ryan's and Kevin Foley's age-group, and that talent seems to be coming to fruition lately. Will be a closely fought game, that may come down to who has better consistency from frees. Tight one to call- St.Martin's just.

Check out the big brain on castletownman, 100% call:)

BOSTIK wrote: »

Check out the big brain on castletownman, 100% call:)

Well predicted the two winners sure enough, but not the margin of victory St.Martin's eventually won by.

5-15 to 0-14 winners in the end, although two goals in quick succession before HT, including one borne out of a huge mistake by the goalie, really helped their cause.

Didn't attend either game as I had prior arrangements, but I believe the first-half of the Gorey-Oylegate was dreadful stuff only to make way for a far more entertaining second-half. Cathal Dunbar will be a loss in the final though (if his red card isn't overturned), and with St.Martin's laying down a marker in their semi, I can see them taking home back-to-back titles for the first time in their history.

The Wexford senior football final pits Kilanerin against Shelmaliers this Sunday. It's a novel final pairing, as the sides have only ever met three times in championship before, with Shels holding the edge 2-1. Kilanerin have won the title seven times, most recently in 2008, while it's the first time Shelmaliers have even gotten this far. But both St.Martin's (2013) and St.James' (2015) have won it for the first time in the last six years, so past history doesn't generally mean much. In fact, the last two winners, Starlights and Gusserane bridged thirteen and 41-year gaps respectively.

My username may give my loyalties away, so I will admit here and now that I cannot stomach seeing the noisy neighbours winning the championship

But credit where it's due, Kilanerin have deserved to get this far. Unbeaten in their seven outings thus far (six wins, one draw) since making the step-up from Intermediate is as good as it gets, particularly when they have beaten St.Martin's twice in that run. That said, they had the easiest quarter-final draw against a St.James' side that had no scoring threat and were made work on occasion, while St.Martin's were naive in their containment of Matty Forde in the semi-final. Forde is still the big-name, and is the second top-scorer in the championship so far, but his nephew Sean Forde has really blossomed in the knock-out stages, while Conor Devitt is a real threat inside too, even if he hasn't been as prominent lately. Without embarking in Chinese whispers, but there is reportedly doubts surrounding the availability of one of their key players- his fitness or lack thereof could prove crucial.

Amazingly, Shelmaliers actually possess a better win record than Kilanerin with seven wins from seven. Not alone did they convincingly beat reigning champions Starlights twice , including in the semi-final, but they emerged from the harder group as well (in my opinion). Craig McCabe is the top scorer in the championship, although it could be argued that he doesn't have the same scoring support as Matty does for Kilanerin. But they are chock-a-block with big names in every outfield line, with every neutral in the county willing Brian Malone onto a county title to crown a brilliant career. He has been a driving force around the middle, while Eoghan Nolan is playing the best football of his fleeting career. Eoin Doyle is a very under-rated attacker in my view, AH Lehane has added extra to the forwards, while Conor Hearne and Ross Banville are promising youngsters.

I think it will come down to the form of Malone and Nolan in and around the middle third, while I also feel that Kilanerin's backs lack a bit of pace although that hasn't necessarily been exposed yet. Shelmaliers are abuzz up front, with better class and pace in defence, and tip them to become the newest team on the roll of honour.

I am not blinded by club rivalry, I promise

Patww79 wrote: »

Wicklow SFC Final this weekend, Wicklow Town Vs Rathnew. The latter to win it handy enough.

Leighton Glynn still playing? must 37 or 38?

castletownman wrote: »

The Wexford senior football final pits Kilanerin against Shelmaliers this Sunday. It's a novel final pairing, as the sides have only ever met three times in championship before, with Shels holding the edge 2-1. Kilanerin have won the title seven times, most recently in 2008, while it's the first time Shelmaliers have even gotten this far. But both St.Martin's (2013) and St.James' (2015) have won it for the first time in the last six years, so past history doesn't generally mean much. In fact, the last two winners, Starlights and Gusserane bridged thirteen and 41-year gaps respectively.

My username may give my loyalties away, so I will admit here and now that I cannot stomach seeing the noisy neighbours winning the championship

But credit where it's due, Kilanerin have deserved to get this far. Unbeaten in their seven outings thus far (six wins, one draw) since making the step-up from Intermediate is as good as it gets, particularly when they have beaten St.Martin's twice in that run. That said, they had the easiest quarter-final draw against a St.James' side that had no scoring threat and were made work on occasion, while St.Martin's were naive in their containment of Matty Forde in the semi-final. Forde is still the big-name, and is the second top-scorer in the championship so far, but his nephew Sean Forde has really blossomed in the knock-out stages, while Conor Devitt is a real threat inside too, even if he hasn't been as prominent lately. Without embarking in Chinese whispers, but there is reportedly doubts surrounding the availability of one of their key players- his fitness or lack thereof could prove crucial.

Amazingly, Shelmaliers actually possess a better win record than Kilanerin with seven wins from seven. Not alone did they convincingly beat reigning champions Starlights twice , including in the semi-final, but they emerged from the harder group as well (in my opinion). Craig McCabe is the top scorer in the championship, although it could be argued that he doesn't have the same scoring support as Matty does for Kilanerin. But they are chock-a-block with big names in every outfield line, with every neutral in the county willing Brian Malone onto a county title to crown a brilliant career. He has been a driving force around the middle, while Eoghan Nolan is playing the best football of his fleeting career. Eoin Doyle is a very under-rated attacker in my view, AH Lehane has added extra to the forwards, while Conor Hearne and Ross Banville are promising youngsters.

I think it will come down to the form of Malone and Nolan in and around the middle third, while I also feel that Kilanerin's backs lack a bit of pace although that hasn't necessarily been exposed yet. Shelmaliers are abuzz up front, with better class and pace in defence, and tip them to become the newest team on the roll of honour.

I am not blinded by club rivalry, I promise

Noisy neighbours? 6 titles to Castletowns 1 in the last 25 years.
Castletown are a historically significant club (Don't know how to do a smiley face on the phone). And I am not a Kilanerin man.
For the record I think the Shels will win by about 4-5.

zetecescort wrote:

Clann na nGael 1-9 St. Bridgets 1-7 HT.

Extremely enjoyable game, the two full forwards Lennon for Clann and Kilbride showing some class

Wexford SFC finished a draw: 2-11 apiece. Very enjoyable, end-to-end football throughout.

Shels looked dead and buried when their full-back was given a second yellow card in bizarre circumstances, and Niall Hughes finished off a poor kickout to make it 2-11 to 2-8 with ten minutes to go. But Shels recovered with the last three points, including a ridiculous effort by Simon Donohoe about two metres in from the byline (only he knows whether it was deliberate or not).

Matty Forde was the top scorer with 1-6, with a couple outrageous points from play and a goal in the first half. Hughes got 1-3 from midfield. Simon Donohoe was in inspired form himself with 1-4. Replay is next Saturday in Wexford Park. Shelmaliers seem to have the better fitness levels so may well recover better in the six-day turnaround.

It's a great opportunity for the Wexford County Board to indulge in some nice PR by either having a special ticket valid for both senior finals next weekend (the hurling is on Sunday), or certainly a reduced rate for the replay. But I just know that common sense won't prevail and it will be €20 entrance each day. Costly weekend for the neutral that wants to attend all finals.

25 for the Intermediate and senior hurling finals today in Cork and a disgraceful 20 for students/OAPS. 22 if bought in advance.

would love if all counties had something like the Tipp county board, 20 euro and attend as many games over the weekend as you like.

Poor_old_gill wrote: »

From watching the Roscommon county final- it seems like that there’s a quota of chubby lads that each team is required to play

Genuine question - what players are you referring to?

I was at the match and watched it again on TG4 player and I am struggling to figure out who you're talking about.

Mushy wrote: »

Sure look at what's happening in Wicklow now. SFC a draw so replay could be day before SHC, with dual players, or day before Leinster game.

Then IHC final is day after the Leinster game

So much for the truncated inter county championship freeing up time for clubs!

Not slagging Wicklow as they are not unique, but their inter county involvement ended months ago. There is no excuse for dual players like Glynn being put into this ridiculous situation.


Limerick camogie example is just farcical. They didn't have an inter county intermediate team and both their seniors and minors failed to win a game and were both finished in June. Their junior inter county team was gone by August.


Would love to hear county board excuse for that mess!