Busy Junior weekend will sharpen focus
Ardagh’s team manager Paul Moran, right, along with team selector Declan Kelly and coach Sean Carey will hope their side make it two wins from two when they meet Ballycastle. Picture: David Farrell Photography
Ardagh left it late to wrap up the win against Killala in their opening Junior Championship game. Brendan Carr kicked the decisive score to edge the game but it should have been in Ardagh’s hands much earlier. They had been seven points ahead at one point and James Carr hit four points.
Ballycastle endured a difficult start against Junior favourites Bonniconlon but recovered in round 2 with a win at home against Killala, who they kept completely scoreless in the first half. Fergal Forde and Thomas McNulty were among the chief scorers for Ballycastle last time out.
Victory will go a long way in this tight group and if Ardagh can get the engine motoring and the Carrs running here, they should come away with the victory.
Prediction: Ardagh
It has been a tough start to the Junior Champioship for Killala having lost narrowly to Ardagh and then a heavy defeat away to Ballycastle thus far.
Ardagh snatched victory in the closing minutes and then Killala had a goal chance denied that could have stolen the points back off Ardagh. They then failed to score in the first half against neighbours Ballycastle and failed to recover, even thiugh they had a marked improvement in the second half.
The Blue & White have looked to Ben Stowe for inspiration in their opening two games and the forward is the second highest scorer in the Junior Championship, with 0-14 to his name, despite his sides’ woes.
Ballycroy endured a torrid time against Bonniconlon and will be looking for more players to pitch in on the scoring stakes after Rory and Michael Conway provided their 0-9 haul against Bonni’.
Killala may yet find some joy in the Junior Championship and it could come in this game.
Prediction: Killala
The amalgamation of Lacken and Kilfian is now into its third year and continues to look a decent, promising prospect, well capable of holding its own in the Junior Championship.
It was not happy hunting away to Tourmakeady last time out but they will be encouraged by aspects of the performance, particularly in the second half when they began to iron out some of the errors that had allowed Tourmak’ to gain such a strong lead.
2-13 is a good return in any game but it was far from enough for Kilmovee who shipped 3-20 against a resurgent Kiltimagh. They struggled on a windswept evening at home and were 16 points behind at the break but that says more about the strength of Kiltimagh than Kilmovee’s overall quality. Peter Horan was the key man for Shamrocks, scoring 1-9, including three two-pointers but they face a long trip up to Lacken on Saturday evening and may fall short against the Gaels.
Prediction: Northern Gaels
Kiltimagh put Kilmovee to the sword in their opening game while Tourmakeady showed their quality to dispatch Eastern Gaels.
Stephen McDonnell was the pick of the bunch for Kiltimagh as they look to rise from the ashes and return to Intermediate after a tough couple of years. The midfielder scored three two-pointers from play and put in a colossal performance while Cian Gallagher also scored 1-4 on their way to a ten-point victory.
This will be a significant game for Ronan Malee. The Tourmakeady captain made the switch to the south Mayo side after representing Kiltimagh for most of his playing career and will no doubt be warmly welcomed back to Gilmartin Park.
His new teammate Maitiu Gibbons was among the best players for Tourmak’ against Northern Gaels and chipped in with five points, including a brilliant score from beyond the arc.
Kiltimagh have lofty hopes this year and will be hoping to keep their good form from last time up here.
Prediction: Kiltimagh
Eastern Gaels were held to a draw against Achill in their opening game while Swinford lost at home against Shrule/Glencorrib – needless to say, both teams will have higher ambitions in the Junior Championship.
It took Gaels some time to settle against Achill and know they will have to avoid another slow start. They turned their early deficit around and were just a point behind at the break, eventually leaving the Island with a share of the spoils thanks to the shooting of Senan Guilfoyle and goals for Jack Madden and Ethan Owens.
Swinford will have been very disappointed by what they produced against the boys from the border but will have taken some heart from the performances of Liam Moran and Kevin McDonagh in the forward ranks.
Swinford came out on top in a quarter-final clash between these two clubs in 2023 but expect a tighter contest this time around.
Prediction: Draw
Shrule/Glencorrib enjoyed themselves against Swinford and their five-point margin of victory could well have been more. Luke Lydon put in a tireless performance and scored both Shrule goals and had hit the post just moments before raising his first green flag.
Shane Mellett and Evan Cawley were also among the best performers from the border boys on their travels and it was every bit a confident performance from Tom Flynn’s side, who will be gunning for the latter stages.
Achill meanwhile went toe-to-toe with Eastern Gaels and had to settle for a share of the spoils. Club legend Brian Lavelle was at his brilliant best against Gaels, scoring 1-8, including three two-pointers, two frees and that goal to boot.
It is a long road from Achill to Shrule and if the home side can carry momentum into round 2, then it will be a fruitless journey for the visitors.
Prediction: Shrule/Glencorrib
