Minor Hurling Championship Division 2 Preview

Division 2 – Clann na nGael, Dunderry, Kilmessan, Kiltale/Boardsmill, Na Fianna & Wolfe Tones

The top team in Division 2A and 2B progress directly to the final with the second team in 2A playing the third in 2B in the Shield semi-final and the second in 2B playing the third in 2A.

In the event of a game in Round 1 finishing level, the team who were drawn at home will play away to the side who had a BYE in Round 1.  Each team will have one home game and one away in the group stages of the competition.

Division 1A – Dunderry, Kiltale/Boardsmill & Wolfe Tones.

Dunderry – With the Intermediate Hurling side having a disappointing Championship this year, it would be a massive boost for the small ball game in the parish if their Minors were to go on a good run in the MHC.  Their form in the Minor Hurling League was encouraging and they have a home semi-final to look forward to when it resumes in the coming months.  In Mark Nolan they have a shrewd operator on the sideline and with him in charge the team will be very well set up.

County Minor panellist Jack Fagan leads the team as captain and along with the Coogan’s (Cian and Liam), he will be the driving force behind their ambitions to land the PJ Stenson Cup.  Their opening round game against Kiltale/Boardsmill will be crucial and if the League form holds through then Dunderry will be confident of victory but Kiltale are likely to have improved significantly from the form they showed back in February and March.

Manager – Mark Nolan.  Selectors – Matthew Duffy & Paddy Darcy.  Captain – Jack Fagan.

Kiltale/Boardsmill – Kiltale won the PJ Stenson Cup twelve months ago and this year they go in search of another success combined with Boardsmill.  The Spring League was something of a disappointment for the team, but they have regrouped post lockdown and come into the Championship confident that they have turned a corner and are now on an upward curve.  This is a difficult group and it will come as no surprise if the teams end up with a win apiece meaning score difference comes into play.

How they ultimately fare could depend on who lines out and if Eoghan Frayne steps across the white line on Saturday then Kiltale/Boardsmill will have one of the best free takers at his age grade in the county amongst their ranks. The dual player showed his ability in that Division 2 Final last year and he could have a busy few weeks ahead with Summerhill in contention for the Division 1 honours in the football.  Others who are likely to be key for the combination outfit are Charlie McCormack, Sean McKenna & Conor Quinn.

Manager – Anthony Quinn.  Selector – Francis Cotter, Kevin McKenna & Tomás Boyle.  Captain – Sean McKenna

Wolfe Tones – It is brilliant to see Wolfe Tones fielding in the Minor Hurling Championship on their own two feet after a long time combined with Navan O’Mahonys and they come into the Championship fancied by many to make it a historic season by going on and winning it outright.  There is excellent work being done in the club promoting hurling and seeing them field a Minor side on their own is testament to this.

County Minor panellist Eoin Donegan is a big player for them, and his strength and power is likely to be deployed around the centre of the field.  If he can help form a platform for the team in the middle third then the ‘Tones will be well on the way to challenging for honours, especially if the likes of Ciaran O’Dea and Thomas Donegan can reach their potential.

Manager – Alan Connell.  Selector – Ken Boyd.  Captain – Eoin Donegan.

Division 1B – Clann na nGael, Kilmessan & Na Fianna.

Clann na nGael – Do Clann na nGael come into the Championship as favourites for the title?  They recently played Rathmolyon in a Division 1 League encounter and the form shown that evening suggests Benny Murray and Gary Cole have the raw ingredients at their disposal to mount a strong challenge for glory.  The nature of the competition means there is no room for error and with that in mind, they will be very wary of their opening round trip to Dunsany as Kilmessan are waiting in the proverbial long grass.

Evan Cole and his fellow Meath Minor panellist Jeaic Murray, who will be eligible for the Minor grade again in 2021 are the leading lights for the team and they will be looking to the likes of Eugene O’Reilly and Joe Ennis to form the nucleus of the side.  If this quartet hit top form, then Clann na nGael will be there or thereabouts come the business end of the competition.

Joint Managers – Benny Murray & Gary Cole.  Selectors – Eddie Doherty & Sean Leavy.  Captain – Cillian Heaney

Nicky Horan, Kilmessan (John Quirke Photography)

Kilmessan – The Michael Byrne managed side enjoyed a solid League campaign and can look forward to a semi-final against Dunderry when the Championship concludes.  They were in free scoring form with 14-72 registered across the four games, giving them an average of almost twenty-nine points scored per game.  If they con continue that form in front of the posts then there will be few teams able to stop the Kilmessan machine.

Nicky Horan was one of the best hurlers this county has produced and no doubt his tutelage has helped sharpen the attacking unit into being the excellent sextet that it now is.  Team captain Kris Gorman will be looking to show well in the Championship as it would have the added benefit of catching the eye of the Meath selectors ahead of the Peadar Ó Liathain Cup later this year while Noah Conroy, Lorcan Byrne and Darragh Horan are others to keep an eye on.

Manager – Michael Byrne.  Selectors – James Farrell & Nicky Horan.  Captain – Kris Gorman.

Na Fianna – Like Clann na nGael, Na Fianna operated in Division 1 of the Spring League and they will be hoping to make that experience at the top table count.  Their recent League Shield semi-final against Killyon/Longwood was a ding dong encounter which suggests they are coming into form at the perfect time.  Numbers are relatively low for Na Fianna which in a dual club can be challenging and how the get through the busy schedule brought on by being a dual club will go a long way towards deciding if they will top the group and book their place in the final.

The Baconstown/Enfield outfit have a BYE in Round 1 and await the losing side from the Kilmessan v Clann na nGael in Round 2 on September 5.  Should Kilmessan lose that game, Na Fianna will be on their travels to Athboy while if Kilmessan win, they will host Clann na nGael in Baconstown. Rory Fagan and Oisín Bright will be key players for Na Fianna, and they will be ably assisted by the exceptionally talented Mark Murphy.

Manager – Diarmuid Fagan.  Selectors – Martin Hanley & Joe Bright.  Joint Captains – Hugh Bocket & Cathal Heffernan.

2019 Winner – Kiltale

Playing For – PJ Stenson Cup

Predicted finalists – Clann na nGael & Kiltale/Boardsmill

Predicted winners – Clann na nGael

Predicted Shield Contestants – Dunderry, Kilmessan, Na Fianna & Wolfe Tones.