Magic Monday for Minors

October 28, 2016

Pairc Tailteann

Forget about Super Sunday on Sky Sports or Black Friday in America, this bank holiday will be Magic Monday in Pairc Tailteann when there will be a treble header of minor championship finals beginning at 12 noon with the Division 5 final , followed by the Divisions 3 and 2 deciders.

Division 5 at 12 noon : Duleek/Bellewstown v  St Cuthberts. Referee Barry Campbell.

When these clubs met in the league stages of the Division 5 Championship , it was Duleek/Bellewstown who came out on top. It maintained their 100% record in the competition while it was the Bohermeen parish side only reverse. It is always said that winning breathes confidence and no doubt the side in green and gold will enter the match as favourites but they wouldn't want to take their opponents for granted as finals sometimes bring the best out in the underdogs as they feel they have nothing to lose. However the prediction is a five point win for Duleek/Bellewstown 

Division 3 at 1-30pm : Clann na Gael v Ballivor/Boardsmill.  Referee  Liam Reddy

A real local derby that is sure to attract a large following to Navan to see who leaves with the Noel Curran Cup. Ironically these sides met in the first round of the competition which is ran on the Christy Ring Cup format. Luckily for Ballivor/Boardsmill there was the back door system as the Athboy outfit ran out convincing 4-14 to 1-08 winners. They were equally impressive in their second round match when the overcame Jenkinstown Gaels , the team they accounted for again in the semi final. The combined side couldn't afford another loss and had to take the longer route to the decider. They had a thrilling one point victory over another combined team, Moynalty/Carnaross in round 2 ( 6-12 to 5-14). They followed that with an away win to Drumconrath/Meath Hill before accounting for a fancied Seneschalstown side in the semi final. Local derbies are always notoriously difficult to predict and despite the earlier easy win for Clann na Gael, this match promises to be much close. Combined sides normally improve as they play more matches and that seems to be the case with Ballivor/Boardsmill. A lot of work is being done at underage level in both hurling and football in Athboy, and they get a hesitant vote to claim the title and get some reward for all that underage endeavour.

Division 2 at 3pm : St Vincents/Curraha  v  St Olivers. Referee   Liam O'Brien

Like all the minor finals, this one also proves hard to predict. St Vincents/Curraha went through their league campaign earlier in the year unbeaten until they met Dunshaughlin in the final and lost be 2 points. They have also reached the championship decider unbeaten with wins over Walterstown, O'Mahonys and Trim at the penultimate stage. St Olivers had a relatively poor league season and when they lost heavily to O'Mahonys in the first round of the championship, prospects of a place in the final looked very bleak. However they have regrouped well  and gained good wins over Walterstown and Simonstown to set up a semi final with neighbours Oldcastle. They accounted for their local rivals and last years Division 2 winners by four points after extra time to reach Mondays decider.

Great credit must go to the three clubs making up the St Olivers side..Ballinlough, St Brigids and Moylagh. They have ensured that players are getting matches and competing at a high level that can only help the adult clubs they represent. Their opponents , St Vincents/Curraha have shown the benefits of strong underage structures as they have gone on in recent years to have successful adult outfits. As for Mondays final, St Vincents/Curraha get the nod to bring home the Liam Tolan Cup by four or five points


Most Read Stories