St. Patrick’s v St. Mary’s

Saturday 4.30pm Connolly Park, Collooney

St Patrick’s play St Mary’s in the first of the Kennedys Intermediate Championship quarter-finals this Saturday afternoon at Connolly Park, with both sides looking to extend their run in the competition.

However, both sides enter the knockout stages having lost in their final group games. St Mary’s were heavily beaten by Shamrock Gaels last weekend in Group One, while, more surprisingly perhaps, Enniscrone/Kilglass got the better of St Patrick’s in their joust last Saturday in Group Two.

Up until last weekend, St Patrick’s were widely regarded as clear favourites to claim the honours in the intermediate grade having put up big scores in four consecutive wins.

While last week’s result isn’t fatal by any means – the Skreen-Dromard outfit still claimed top spot in Group Two – it certainly dents St Patrick’s credentials as the team to beat in this year’s championship.

James and Padraic Clarke continue to be key players for St Patrick’s, while Dónal Brady and Colin Keane are also prominent figures for the green and red.

St Mary’s have become a depleted side due to many of their players – younger ones in particular – playing for the club in the Senior Championship, and thus making them ineligible to play at intermediate level.

This is apparent in their recent results – they have shipped two heavy defeats in their last two games, while prior to that they were extremely competitive – and so they will be regarded as an easy challenge for St Patrick’s in this tie.

However, championship – and particularly knockout – can be an unpredictable business, but even so, St Patrick’s should have more than enough to see off the Ballydoogan based side.

Saturday’s clash has a 4.30pm throw-in time.

Ballymote vs Bunninadden Preview

Saturday 6pm, Connolly Park, Collooney

In another derby this weekend sees Ballymote take on Bunninadden. Last weekend Ballymote ensured that they wouldn’t be involved in the relegation battle when they proved too strong for St.Farnan’s meanwhile Bunninadden were defeated by St.Michael’s in a shock result which ensured a tie between these local rivals.

Until last weekend Bunninadden seemed to be going very well and looked like one of the contenders to win this year’s title but last weekend’s defeat against Michael’s may either be misguiding or maybe they aren’t as strong as other years. Ballymote on the other hand who are managed by Pat McGrath have been a very mixed bag all year and have seemed to be struggling but that win against Farnan’s could give them a kick start against local rivals Bunninadden this week . 

Midfield will be key battle between these sides and if Mark Gormley can dominate this sector Bunninadden could have great success on the score board. Ballymote who are without Peter Lyons will need Stephen Ross to lead from the front and his pace could cause serious problems for the Bunninadden men.

 You would still have to fancy Bunninadden as they have been playing competitive games in Division 1 of the league which should stand to them this weekend.

Easkey v Shamrock Gaels

Sunday 2pm, Markievicz Park, Sligo

In what is perhaps the most intriguing-looking quarter-final tie, Easkey and Shamrock Gaels come into battle for the second year in succession in the last eight of the Kennedys Intermediate Championship this Sunday afternoon at Markievicz Park (2pm).

Last year, it was Shamrock Gaels who emerged as winners - they subsequently went on to reach the final – so Easkey will have revenge on the mind come Sunday afternoon.

Both sides had mixed group campaigns. In Group One, Shamrock Gaels began with a disappointing loss to Bunninadden but they recovered from that early reversal to finish with two wins and a draw.

Easkey finished in third place in Group Two, although they actually won four games, with their only loss being a ten-point defeat to St Patrick’s in round three.

There is little, it would appear, to choose between both sides and that makes this game a really difficult one to call.

Going on league form, which can be a rather useful barometer, Shamrock Gaels had a better campaign in Division Two as they topped the league, while Easkey finished mid-table. In their league meeting, Shamrock Gaels were two-point winners – and they won by three points in last year’s championship quarter-final meeting – so it all points to another close encounter.

Easkey have experience in abundance – think Dessie Sloyan, Noel McGuire and Eugene Mullen – and that could be a decisive factor if this game is close.

Shamrock Gaels will fancy their chances here, but this tie has the makings of a ding-dong battle.

Enniscrone/Kilglass vs Castleconnor Preview

Sunday 3.45pm Markievicz Park, Sligo

One of the big games of the weekend is the battle of the west as Enniscrone/Kilglass will be hoping to cause a shock when they take on their neighbours Castleconnor on Sunday afternoon. The sides played out an entertaining draw a couple of weeks back and both teams will feel that they can get better of each other this time around.

Castleconnor will come into the match as favourites as they are one of the favourites to win the Intermediate championship this year as they have plenty of experience throughout the team with the likes of Eamon Cawley and the Langan brothers expected to play big part in Sunday’s Quarter – Final. Castleconnor also have plenty of youth with Kevin McDonnell and Stephen Curley among the young stars in their side.

Meanwhile Enniscrone, a side that  in previous years were in relegation finals are making a comeback and this is mainly down to all the hard work that has been done over the years at underage level and this can be seen this year when Mark O’Dowd played with this year’s county minor team. Enniscrone will hope that Mark Gordon and Brian Coleman can perform and if so these two men could play a part in causing an upset on Sunday.

Overall you would find it hard to see past Castleconnor but in a local derby anything is possible.