Championship – Weekend preview – Inter & Jr A Qtr Finals

After the washed out programme last Sunday, the GWP Intermediate and Junior A Championship take centre-stage this weekend when the Quarter-Finals are held.
The eight teams involved in the Intermediate competition will have to deal with the delay caused by last Sundays downpours and it is hard to know what effect, if any, the delay will have on a teams chances.

One team that is sure to be effected by the delay and the replay of the Senior Championship Relegation Semi-Final is the St. Marys Junior A team who take on Leitrim Gaels in an eagerly awaited contest.

However, the replay of the Senior relegationÓgame between Aughnasheelin and St. Marys could effect their chances.

It will also have an effect on the St. Marys Intermediate squad who take onÓgortletteragh on Sunday, with many of the players involved with the Intermediate team eligible for either the Senior or Junior A squads.

Below we take a very brief look at next weekends games:

 

Intermediate Championship Quarter-Finals

Glenfarne/Kilty v St. Caillins
Glenfarne/Kilty are the surprise packages of this years Intermediate competition while Fenagh St. Caillins are rebuilding with a young side who impressed in their meetings with Aughawillan & Ballinaglera.

Glenfarne/Kilty probably have a little more momentum at the moment and while nobody would be surprise here with a Fenagh win, the north Leitrim men probably have an edge in this game.

Gortletteragh v St. Marys
St. Marys chances are greatly hampered by the involvement of their Senior and Junior sides in crucial games on Saturday evening. But having said that, Gortletteragh are one of the favourites for the Intermediate crown and even without the other games, youd expect Gortletteragh to have far too much strength and ability for Marys in this one.

Aughawillan v Dromahair
Just how the postponement will effect these teams is unclear – Dromahair may gain more as they are slowly regaining lost form but Aughawillan are just as eager to get back on track. This could be the game of the day and Dromahair have a habit of upsetting highly rated teams in the last few years but the odds would still appear to favour Aughawillan.

Cloone v Glencar/Manor
Cloone are strong hot favourites in this one but they will be wary of a very strong Glencar/Manor second string. The north Leitrim club may have their focus on the Senior championship and youd have to expect that Cloone will be too strong for them in this game.

 

GWP Junior Championship Quarter-Finals

Leitrim Gaels v St. Marys
The tie of the round seems the fellow parishioners take on each other once – the games have swung one way and then the other but Leitrim Gaels have improved greatly this year, performing well and taking a step up.

The danger for them is if they get overly worked up about the idea of facing St. Marys and getting one over on their bigger neighbours – a lack of focus on the game and concentrating instead on the "derby" element could leave the Gaels prone to a shock as St. Marys have a very strong line-up.They have a good mix in their team and going in as completely underdogs, they face no pressure or expectations. If Leitrim Gaels concentrate on producing the same sort of football they have played so far, they should advance comfortably.

 

Aughavas v Mohill
Another of the favourites for the Junior title, Aughavas, take on a strong Mohill second string and they should prove far too strong in this game, particularly with a possible clash with Leitrim Gaels to come in the Semi-Final.

Aughavas will be anxious to set down a marker after their draw with Eslin and they should do so against Mohill.

Eslin v Carrigallen
After the euphoria of their late draw against Aughavas, Eslin will need to get their feet back on the ground quickly as Carrigallen are quite strong for this Division. They contested the Division Five Final and will not be a push-over. But if Eslin can start the way they finished against Aughavas, then they should be far too strong here.

 

Bornacoola v Gortletteragh
The attentions of these clubs may be concentrated on the Senior and Intermediate championships but there is no doubt that both will be eager to score a win in this derby. It will be close but a strong Gortletteragh should just about come through here.

 

Senior Relegation Semi-Final

Aughnasheelin v St. Marys
Very hard to know who has the upper hand here – St. Marys seem to have lost their League form and are desperately trying to regain it. Did Aughnasheelin miss their chance last Saturday? Their confidence will have received a major boost and they will be very hard beaten. One feels that the momentum has definitely switched Aughnasheelins way but is there a kick left in Marys?

 

GWP Intermediate Relegation Semi-Finals

Ballinaglera v Drumkeerin; Allen Gaels v Annaduff
The north Leitrim derby between Ballinaglera and Drumkeerin is a tough one to call. Ballinaglera probably have the edge in results but Drumkeerin still possess a lot of quality in their ranks. It will be tight and tough but Glera to shade it while, in the battle of the second string teams, Annaduff should just about see off Allen Gaels in the other game.

 

GWP Junior A Relegation Semi-FInals

Kiltubrid v Ballinamore Sean OHeslins; Melvin Gaels v Drumkeerin
Going on results so far, youd expect Kiltubrid and Melvin Gaels to come through in these games without too much trouble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This full report is available thanks to John Connolly and the Leitrim Observer
– it s available in this weeks edition of the Observer and online here

 

 

 

 

 

 

28-Aug-09 by LeitrimObserver.ie