Can Castlerahan make it three in a row?
Senior and Intermediate Championships get underway this weekend
Damien Donohoe
The long awaited championship action is back this weekend and three in a row chasing Castlerahan start their defence of the Oliver Plunkett Cup against Shercock on Saturday evening in Mullagh. With much change to the Castlerahan squad Captain Enda Flanagan is looking forward not back.
“We’ve lots of lads who worked really hard, (in recent years); lots of lads biting to get in there so all we can do is focus on the players we have at the moment and continue on.”
Flanagan agreed that use of a limited number of players in recent years “didn’t give younger lads and lads who felt they deserved a chance, a chance. They’ll have lots of chances now. Hopefully they can step up to the mark.”
Elsewhere in the Hotel Kilmore Senior championship Gowna will be looking to put a disappointing 2019 behind them when they face last year’s beaten finalists Ramor Utd who are now without the services of Conor Bradley. Due to a bereavement in The Ramor United Club, this game, which was originally fixed for tonight (Friday, July 31), has been rescheduled for Sunday, August 2 at 2pm in Kingspan Breffni.
When Kingscourt meet Lacken on Saturday midfield will be a battle ground with county men Thomas Galligan and Padraig Faulkner likely to go toe to toe. The intermediate championship winners from 2018 and 2019 have been pitted against each other in what looks set to be a very youthful affair, judging by league games. Defeat for either side could make progress to the knock-out stage very difficult.
Cavan Gaels will see Gearoid McKiernan line out in the senior championship on Saturday after his move east. With the return of Robert Maloney Derham from New York expectation are high this year but a young Killygarry side with Conor Smith in top form will be looking to spoil the party.
Finally on Sunday evening Crosserlough without Dara McVeety (in Australia) and the injured Pierce Smith will take on Lavey fresh from a huge win against Drumgoon. Lavey with county men Gerard Smith, Chris Conroy, Paul Gilchrist have shown they’re a championship side who will fancy an upset here.
The clash of the round in the Hotel Kilmore Intermediate championship sees Ballyhaise face Cuchulainns on Sunday. With Kevin Tierney, Padraig Moore back from travels and David Brady injury free Ballyhaise by beating Castlerahan last weekend are many people’s favourite to go all the way.
Last year’s finalists Belturbet have a tricky start against Ramor Utd while two teams that have introduced youth to their teams Drumlane and Butlersbridge should produce an exciting derby. There is very little to split the sides in the remainder of the matches so expect some close battles.
Friday, July 31
Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Championship 2020
Rd 1 O'Raghallaigh Park 20:15
• Drumgoon V Killinkere
Referee: Ollie Donohoe
Stand By Referee: Tony Gregory
Linesman: Paudge Farrelly
Saturday, August 1
Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Championship 2020
Rd 1 Rory O'Moore Park 17:00
• Drumlane V Butlersbridge
Referee: Martin Sexton
Stand By Referee: Chris McCaffrey
Linesman: Thomas Doonan
Hotel Kilmore Senior Championship 2020
Rd 1 Lavey GAA Grounds 17:00
• Kingscourt Stars V Lacken
Referee: Pat Clarke
Stand By Referee: Ollie Donohoe
Linesman: Barry Mc Menamin
Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Championship 2020
Rd 1 Mullahoran 19:30
• Ballymachugh V Cornafean
Referee: Tony Gregory
Stand By Referee: John Power
Linesman: Mattie McGahern
Hotel Kilmore Senior Championship 2020
Rd 1 Kingspan Breffni 19:30
• Killygarry V Cavan Gaels
Referee: Conor Dourneen
Stand By Referee: James Clarke
Linesman: Jason O'Reilly
Edwin Carolan Community Park 19:30
• Castlerahan V Shercock
Referee: Michael Lee
Stand By Referee: Kieran McCarville
Linesman: Raymond Tynan
Sunday, August 2
Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Championship 2020
Rd 1 Hugh O Reilly Memorial Park 14:00
• Cuchulainns V Ballyhaise
Referee: Kieran McCarville
Stand By Referee: Pat Clarke
Linesman: Paudge Farrelly
Lacken GAA 14:00
• Arva V Ballinagh
Referee: James Clarke
Stand By Referee: Peter Skelly
Linesman: Brendan Sweeney
Hotel Kilmore Senior Championship 2020
Rd 1 Kingspan Breffni 14:00
• Gowna V Ramor United
Referee: Joe McQuillan
Stand By Referee: Padraig Sheridan
Linesman: Packie Smith
Hotel Kilmore Intermediate Championship 2020
Rd 1 Athletic Grounds 17:00
• Killeshandra V Bailieborough
Referee: Padraig Sheridan
Stand By Referee: Brendan Sweeney
Linesman: Martin Cleary
Emmett Park 17:00
• Belturbet V Ramor United
Referee: Chris McCaffrey
Stand By Referee: Harry Conaty
Hotel Kilmore Senior Championship 2020
Rd 1 St. Matthew's Park 17:00
• Mullahoran GFC V Laragh Utd
Referee: Stephen Mc Kiernan
Stand By Referee: Pat Clarke
Linesman: Joe Mc Quillan
Kingspan Breffni 19:30
• Crosserlough V Lavey
Referee: Oliver Óg O Reilly
Stand By Referee: Michael Lee
Linesman: James Clarke