Kennedys Intermediate Championship Rd 3 Previews

Back 21/08/2015 @ 09:35 | mainnews | Kennedys Intermediate Championship Rd 3 Previews

Easkey v St. Patrick's

Sunday 6pm in Easkey GAA Grounds

It’s a battle of the West this Sunday evening with favourites for this year’s competition St.Patrick’s taking on Easkey in match which will guarantee a place in this year’s Intermediate Quarter Finals. To date both West Sligo sides have an unbeaten record and will both hope to continue this at the weekend.

 Easkey who have a win over St.Farnan’s in another West Sligo clash will feel that if their top players can perform they will have a chance of getting over the line but with that said it is sure to be a close contest with Padraic Clarke and James Clarke currently in top form for the St.Pats men while Easkey will depend on the service that Dessie Sloyan will be given with likes of Emmet Healy and Emmet Lindsay to run from deep for the Sea Blues .

 If  Pats can get to grips with Easkey at midfield this could lead to a successful evening for the Pats men as Niall Connolly could have a big part to play for Pats but unfortunately they will have to plan without his brother Enda who currently recovering from injury .

In a match that could easily go either way the draw is the most likely outcome as both sides won’t want to lose on this occasion. 


Ballymote v Enniscrone/Kiglass

Saturday at 7pm in Corran Park, Ballymote

The group two clash of Ballymote and Enniscrone/Kilglass this weekend brings together two teams with two different stories to tell so far in this year’s championship. Enniscrone have a full four points out of four after wins over Cloonacool and St.Farnan’s thus far, and it was that win over their fellow West Sligo rivals that raised eyebrows on many. Meanwhile Ballymote who have made their return to the Intermediate grade this year have yet to get a win under their belt haven been beaten by a fancied outright winners St.Pat’s team and Easkey.

With only the top four teams guaranteed safe passage to the Quarter-Finals and more importantly avoiding the relegation battle, both teams will see this as a crucial game. The stakes are even higher for Ballymote in what is their last home game of the group stages. They are a team in transition at the moment with many of their senior figures departing the scene last year after giving many years service to the red and white. They showed the signs of a team that has it in them to win this game during periods of their last home round game with St.Patrick’s . Enniscrone however have been on a steady incline over the last few years and can boast a side mixed with more seasoned players such as Michael Moyles as well as some new blood with the likes of Mark O’Dowd who got his berth on the county minor team this year. They will travel to Corran Park with plenty of fire in the belly and this year’s league meeting which resulted in a 2-11 to 1-14 draw gives promise for an entertaining clash. Throw in is at 7pm in Ballymote on Saturday.

 

Shamrock Gaels v St.Michael’s

Saturday at 4pm in Shamrock Gaels Park, Coola

A win for either side in this local derby of the two Eastern division clubs will reignite championship hopes as both currently see a duck egg beside their name on the group one table. Last year’s beaten finalist Shamrock Gaels were beaten well on home soil by Bunninadden, a result few would have expected. To date that has been their only championship action and they will home to make amends against their Ballingtogher-Ballygawley neighbours who succumbed to the challenge of Castleconnor in round one and more surprisingly St.Mary’s second tier outfit a fortnight ago.

However the slate is wiped clean for this weekend’s battle and like in derby matches when local bragging rights are at stake it has the prospect of a good encounter. Shamrock Gaels know only too well the threat that St Michaels can pose given their 1-6 to 0-8 loss in their Division Two clash in May. The Gaels have blooded a young group of players over the last number of years into their side with the likes of David Quinn, Johnny Quinn and Ciaran O’Connor more than able to hold their own. Throw in is at 4pm in Coola.

St.Mary's v Castleconnor

Saturday at 7pm in Kent Park, Sligo

Castleconnor and St Mary’s clash next weekend in a game that both sides will be keen to win in order to cement their progression to the quarter-finals of the Kennedys Intermediate Championship.

St Mary’s, Junior ‘A’ winners last year, secured a hard-fought win over St Michael’s in their first game in the competition, and will be a difficult opponent for any side in the competition, particularly at home in Kent Park.

The Ballydoogan-based side have a plethora of underage talent ready to burst onto the senior scene, and they are likely to use the intermediate championship to introduce these youngsters to the adult scene.

Nathan Rooney impressed when introduced last week and grabbed two points to ensure St Mary’s secured a hard-fought win in Ballintogher, and he along with other youngsters such as Kyle Cawley and Paul Kilcoyne will be central to St Mary’s campaign.

Castleconnor have been boosted by the return of David Carrabine to their ranks for this year’s campaign, and although beaten by Bunninadden in the last round of fixtures, the west Sligo club are expected to be there or thereabouts when the competition reaches the latter stages.

Kevin McDonnell and Kevin Langan are also key figures for Castleconnor, while a youthful looking forward line is complemented by the experience of Eamonn Cawley who continues to be one of their most reliable performers.

This game is likely to be closer than many would expect, but Castleconnor’s experience should see them over the line.

 

St. Farnan's v Cloonacool

Saturday at 7pm in Enniscrone GAA Grounds(Note change of Venue)

St Farnan’s and Cloonacool meet on Saturday evening in round two of the Kennedys Intermediate Championship (7pm), and both sides will be keen to secure what would be a valuable two points.

Neither team has won a game thus far, and another loss in the third round would surely end either sides hopes of advancing to the quarter-final stage of the competition.

St Farnan’s in particular have endured a difficult campaign to date, and have only managed a total of 12 scores in their two games to date. Having failed to score in the second half in their loss against Enniscrone/Kilglass, the Dromore West outfit will hope to rectify their problems going forward, which could mean county minor star Finnian Cawley is given a starting berth on the 40’ to breathe life into their attack on his return to club duty.

James Hynes and Gareth Ryan form an industrious looking midfield partnership for St Farnan’s too, so there is no lack of talent at their disposal.

Cloonacool have also been somewhat toothless in attack so far in their group two campaign, with only a total of 0-12 to show for their efforts in the first two games.

Despite this poor return the south Sligo side possess some useful attackers – Hughie Marren a case in point – and should he get the right supply, Cloonacool will cause St Farnan’s problems.

One would expect St Farnan’s to have too much for Cloonacool, but if Michael Henry’s side stay in the game until the closing stages, a shock could be on the cards.