A big week of action in the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship throws in this evening with two quarter finals down for decision under the floodlights in Moynalty and Cortown. Who will progress to join Clann na nGael and St. Brigid’s in Sunday’s semi-finals?
The games are all ticket and are priced as follows.
Balreask Bar Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC Quarter Finals
- Adult – €15
- Student/OAP – €10
- U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult
Tickets for all games can be purchased via the Meath GAA App which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Ballinlough enjoyed something of a mixed group stage with two victories, one draw and a loss to their name but there is no doubt that they have the raw materials necessary to make a bold bid for outright honours if they manage to get over the test that Syddan will provide. Their defensive effort, marshalled by captain Robbie Farrell and Darragh Caffrey can be very tough to get the better of while up front the likes of the Shine brothers and Kit Og Lynch can by match winners provided their efforts in the hurling on Sunday haven’t taken too big a toll.
Syddan’s campaign has resembled the good, the bad and the ugly. The ugly being their Round 3 defeat to Clann na nGael in which they were second best all over the pitch. The bad coming when Kilbride proved too strong when the sides met in Slane on August 25 while the good would definitely be their late, late showing to snatch victory over Dunsany and then their superb performance to dismantle St. Ultan’s in the final round and thus qualify for the knockout stages.
Cormac Rafferty in action against Clann na nGael in Round 3 on Sunday August 13. Photo via MeathPics
As he has been for a number of years now, Daire Rowe is the focal point of the Syddan attack and his duel with Sean Geraghty should it come to pass will prove pivotal. Rowe burst into form the last day and if he can continue in that light then Syddan have a great chance of picking up a semi-final spot. Older brother Cormac has a knack of picking up goals at crucial times while Cormac Rafferty and Patrick Farrelly are others to look out for in their attack.
Sean Clare and Cathal Duff form a strong partnership at midfield although Kevin Traynor is a big loss while in defence, team captain Ryan Summersby anchors the efforts from centre back and he is ably assisted by among others Dara Dillon and Michael Fedigan.
There is an abundance of young talent coming through in Kilbride and they appear to be developing quite the potent mix. In recent weeks, Josh Harford has lit the Junior Championship up with some of his scoring exploits and the Leo Turley managed side will be looking for him to continue in this rich vein of form. He has been ably assisted in attack by the O’Leary brothers while Conor McWeeney, now that he appears to have gotten over the injuries that plagued him for over twelve months, offers a ball carrying threat.
Moylagh stumbled through to this stage but secured their quarter final place when accounting for Kilmainham in the final round by five points. The veteran Joe Melia forms a solid midfield partnership with Sean Reilly while the ever-reliable Shane and Darren Gibney bring a real element of steel to the defensive efforts. They will have their work cut out to progress to the last four encounter on Sunday with close friends St. Brigid’s but in a one off game, Moylagh can never be discounted.
Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship Quarter Finals
Ballinlough v Syddan
Kilbride v Moylagh
