WHILE the vast majority of the opening round fixtures in the McCarthy Insurance Group football leagues from Division 1 to 5 have been played, there are still a couple of outstanding fixtures.
The reigning Division 1 football league champions St Finbarr’s get going tomorrow against Cill na Martra in Togher at 12 noon and a lot of attention will be on them for a number of reasons.
A lot has changed since they were beaten by Castlehaven by four points in the last four of the Premier SFC last October. Firstly, Paul O’Keeffe, who guided the club to the 2021 top-flight football championship title stepped down in the aftermath of that defeat.
O’Keeffe then moved up the ladder as he was picked as the new chairman of the football section of the club.
A new manager landed in the second week of January when Brian Roche succeeded O’Keeffe in the Togher hotseat. Joining Roche on the sideline will put the spotlight on the team this season, with Jimmy Barry Murphy coming in as part of the new management ticket.
New St Finbarr’s football boss Brian Roche pictured back in 2017 while in charge of the Sarsfields hurlers. Picture: Eddie O’Hare
The decision to push the first league game back a week for the Barrs came at the request of both clubs and it suited both given the circumstances in St Finbarr’s and Cill na Martra’s respective campaigns. Cill na Martra’s 23/24 season saw them win the PIFC and then the Munster title and the small Gaeltacht side from Muskerry reached the All-Ireland IFC final which was played on Sunday, January 28, but were defeated by Armagh’s Cullyhanna.
There has also been change during the close season in Cill na Martra, with the departure of John Evans as boss and he was replaced by Morgan O’Sullivan, who was previously in charge of Castletownbere. He led the Town to the IFC crown in 2012 in his first stint in charge. Another Cork GAA legend will be on the Togher sideline tomorrow, with Noel O’Leary a selector in the new management set up in Cill na Martra.
While it will only be the opening league fixture for St Finbarr’s, a lot of eyes will be on that part of the county to see how they are shaping up and what their style will be like. At the end of the day, it’s all geared towards the championship, where the Barrs will come up against Douglas, Valley Rovers and Mallow in the group stage.
Kilna Martra are in their first season as a senior outfit, where they will be facing Ballinagarth, Carrigaline and Kiskeam in the SAFC group stage.
The other football fixture down for decision this weekend, on what is the hurling leagues opening weekend, is from Division 3, as Kilshannig make the two-hour trip down to Beara tomorrow, to take on the hosts Castletownbere at 12 noon.
Castletownbere’s Gary Murphy on the move against Cill na Martra last year in the PIFC semi-final. Picture: Tony McElhinney
Both of these sides have a lot in common, both fell at the semi-final hurdle in the PIFC in 2023, and also both teams are under new managers for the 2024 campaign.
Ian Murphy has stepped up from being a selector to the hotseat in Castletownbere, while Denis Reen has moved from Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh to now being joint manager with Kilshannig.
Castletownbere finished mid-table last year, winning five and losing four from nine league outings. On the other hand, their North Cork opposition won all nine games in Division 4. It won’t be the first meeting of the two sides this year as they will lock horns in the PIFC group stage, while also meeting Macroom and Rockchapel.
Looking ahead to next week, there are a few football games midweek.
In Division 1, there have been contrasting starts for both Ballincollig and Castlehaven and they meet on Wednesday in Ballincollig at 8pm. The Village lost by three points away to Carrigaline, while the Haven prevailed over Douglas on home soil by two points.
On the same night and the same time, St Michael’s welcome O’Donovan Rossa to Church Road from Division 3. St Michael’s won the first day out at home against Clyda Rovers, while the West Cork side have two points from two matches.
St Michael’s Alan O’Callaghan up against Seán McDonnell of Mallow during their Premier SFC clash in Blarney last year. Picture: Jim Coughlan
On Thursday, Jim O’Sullivan’s Newcestown travel to Carrigaline for a 7.45pm throw-in time in an intriguing Division 1 tie. Newcestown battled gamely, but lost out to Nemo Rangers on the opening weekend, 1-10 to 0-10, while Carrigaline came good to defeat Ballincollig 0-12 to 0-9.
FIXTURES
TOMORROW:
Division 1: St Finbarr’s v Kilna Martra, Togher, 12 noon.
Division 3: Castletownbere v Kilshannig, Castletownbere, 12 noon.
WEDNESDAY:
Division 1: Ballincollig v Castlehaven, Ballincollig, 8pm.
Division 2: St Michael’s v O’Donovan Rossa, Church Road, 8pm.
THURSDAY
Division 1: Carrigaline v Newcestown, Carrigaline, 7.45pm.
Division 4: St Vincent’s v Naomh Aban, St Vincent’s, 8pm.
Division 5: Dromtarriffe v Kinsale, Cloughduv, 8.40pm.
2024-03-09 10:31:47
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