Well a few results over the weekend make the last round very interesting. Shamrock Gaels will have to pull off a win over Coolera to make a semi final and judging by their close affair with Easkey that may be unlikely. Easkey to their credit have battled hard in their first year back in Senior and will feel unlucky to be in a regelation semi final. I'd expect that Tubber will beat Calry so them reaching a knockout semi final wouldn't have been on many people's cards including their own I would suspect.
Group two has not failed to deliver some excitement. Fair play to Drumcliffe they always manage to slay off one of the heavy hitters but will they get any just reward? Mary's and themselves will hopefully draw a big crowd and good quality football. Tourlestrane in relegation SF will be an unusual test for them and I'd wonder what morale is like?
In intermediate well it's all done and dusted in group 1 only sorting out positions. Both Bunninadden and Castleconnor shipped a fair amount of goals and sure Castleconnor are in relegation even if they beat Bunninadden so not a whole lot going on there for them. The results in the other group will be of serious concern to both C/M and E.Harps who would have had big ambitions I'm sure. While C/M got the win just about it is hardly emphatic and they still may not make the semi anyway. Intermediate really is wide open now.
Onto the Junior and I think a talking point for most observers was the half time score between Ballymote and Harps! Michael's losing further highlights their difficulties and it really is Ballymote's championship to lose you would think at this stage. Cloonacool hobbling to a 1 point win over DRP means there's still a bit to play for in the final group games there.
How were attendances at games? I opted for the streaming option this weekend and commentary and coverage was good as usual in it in fairness but I'd wonder how profitable it is.
I didn't make the Molaise win but that was some response to be fair. Definitely would have been questions asked of their character had they fallen into relegation so to get through in that style against an in form team is making a statement. Would be a super semi final with Coolera (who need to avoid defeat to SG to top the group) who continue to get their job done professionally after their win against Tubber who aren't out of it yet. The second semi final spot is still up for grabs with Shamrock Gaels needing to now beat Coolera after scraping past Easkey. All to play for there. I was at the Drumcliffe Tour game. Was a real prod and poke and not one for the purists, but I thought Drumcliffe done enough to deserve the win. Neither are an expansive side but I thought Drumcliffe looked to have more energy in the middle third. I'm not one to get carried away but I don't see another championship in Tourlestrane for awhile and I agree, the Solan thing couldn't have helped. In Intermediate, Harp got a shock to blow open that group. From my calculations, everyone is still in with a shot there and while Coolaney, who scraped by Pats, are almost there. They will have to sweat it out and hope Enniscrone don't win well. Owenmore Gaels and Geevagh will battle out top spot after the formers win over Bunninadden. The bunnines will need to beat the already in trouble Castleconnor who went down late to St. Johns. The men from the west look favorites for the drop now. In Junior, St. Michaels slipped up but a win against Tourletrane will get them to a Semi Final. the winners of Marys Molaise will join them. In the other group, Cloonacool made hard work of Drumcliffe but got off the mark while Ballymote almost certainly guaranteed their spot beating Harps. It would be good if the three first teams could reach a semi final.
Replying To johncreilly: "I didn't make the Molaise win but that was some response to be fair. Definitely would have been questions asked of their character had they fallen into relegation so to get through in that style against an in form team is making a statement. Would be a super semi final with Coolera (who need to avoid defeat to SG to top the group) who continue to get their job done professionally after their win against Tubber who aren't out of it yet. The second semi final spot is still up for grabs with Shamrock Gaels needing to now beat Coolera after scraping past Easkey. All to play for there. I was at the Drumcliffe Tour game. Was a real prod and poke and not one for the purists, but I thought Drumcliffe done enough to deserve the win. Neither are an expansive side but I thought Drumcliffe looked to have more energy in the middle third. I'm not one to get carried away but I don't see another championship in Tourlestrane for awhile and I agree, the Solan thing couldn't have helped. In Intermediate, Harp got a shock to blow open that group. From my calculations, everyone is still in with a shot there and while Coolaney, who scraped by Pats, are almost there. They will have to sweat it out and hope Enniscrone don't win well. Owenmore Gaels and Geevagh will battle out top spot after the formers win over Bunninadden. The bunnines will need to beat the already in trouble Castleconnor who went down late to St. Johns. The men from the west look favorites for the drop now. In Junior, St. Michaels slipped up but a win against Tourletrane will get them to a Semi Final. the winners of Marys Molaise will join them. In the other group, Cloonacool made hard work of Drumcliffe but got off the mark while Ballymote almost certainly guaranteed their spot beating Harps. It would be good if the three first teams could reach a semi final."
Still seething after paying to see a glorified chess game between DRP v Tour. It was as a bad a match I ever attended and was akin to watching Ireland's soccer team (where you are always one step away from knocking off the tv but leave it on just in case you miss anything!). Well they only bright light in this contest was Lallys goal as apart from it most of the crowd could have brought a hammock or a sleeping bag and had a snooze between the kick outs or when the only umpire at the road end was attempting to retrieve the ball! Could luck to DRP who have practiced the dark arts of 15 behind the ball for years but I have my doubts if they will capture the Owen B. Tour on the other hand are a sad reflection of the team of yore and the tactics employed to counteract the blanket failed miserably.
The new rules suggested by Jim Gavin and associates can only improve what we know as senior club and inter county chess games
Replying To leyny: "Still seething after paying to see a glorified chess game between DRP v Tour. It was as a bad a match I ever attended and was akin to watching Ireland's soccer team (where you are always one step away from knocking off the tv but leave it on just in case you miss anything!). Well they only bright light in this contest was Lallys goal as apart from it most of the crowd could have brought a hammock or a sleeping bag and had a snooze between the kick outs or when the only umpire at the road end was attempting to retrieve the ball! Could luck to DRP who have practiced the dark arts of 15 behind the ball for years but I have my doubts if they will capture the Owen B. Tour on the other hand are a sad reflection of the team of yore and the tactics employed to counteract the blanket failed miserably.
The new rules suggested by Jim Gavin and associates can only improve what we know as senior club and inter county chess games"
I'm glad you brought the new rules up leyny. What do you think will get pushed through?
I feel hard done by. I didn't think the junior was included . Is there an appeals process, or more important who would be on the appeals committee? )).... Lesson learned I will do the full schedule next time. Well done you on keeping tabs on everything.