Big casualties likely as round four clashes down for decision

Preview

After 18 matches in the Senior Football Championship, 11 of the 12 teams are still in contention for a place in the quarter-finals, with all six final-round matches down for decision at 2.30pm this Sunday.

While an exciting afternoon of action is certainly in store, the situation possibly raises a question about the championship structure – which, without seeding, is heavily draw-dependent and can produce unfair scenarios – but that is a debate best kept for another day.

As it is, only three sides – Crosserlough, Mullahoran and Ramor United – are guaranteed to progress to the next round and there is likely to be one big gun in the relegation play-offs. The first two meet in what is essentially a dead rubber, with only final position up for grabs – and even that is not particularly relevant as finishing top may earn the dubious reward of facing a top side like last year’s champions Gowna or runners-up Kingscourt, should either finish in eighth place.

Ramor take on Cavan Gaels at Crosskeys in what should be a very interesting game. The Virginia men won the league but haven’t impressed in the championship, beating Ballyhaise with a last-minute goal, drawing against Mullahoran and needing an injury-time penalty to get past Killygarry, having leaked four goals.

That said, they remain unbeaten and if they can get some players back from injury, they will still take a lot of beating.

Cavan Gaels are not the team they were but retain that defiant mentality; they doff the cap to no-one and despite picking up a loss in the first round, they have ground out a win against Ballinagh and a draw against old rivals Gowna to give themselves a fighting chance of advancing. Ramor, though, get the nod.

Elsewhere, holders Gowna again find themselves in a spot of bother after another unconvincing group stage. The two-time defending champions have tended to idle in the group stages in the last three years but have done just enough to get through and are gunning for a fourth county final appearance in succession following a 14-year absence from the big day.

They were bossed by the Gaels for long stretches last week but summoned up a big finale to come from five down and force a draw and if they can improve a little more, they could get over Killygarry. The Crubany men match up well to Gowna; they beat them in the group stages two years ago before Gowna turned the tables in the final. Last year, the sides drew in the quarter-final, with Gowna winning the replay by three.

The concern for Killygarry is that they are leaking too many scores. Their forward line is exceptional – they probably boast more firepower than any other side in the competition – although only two players, both exceptional U20s, accounted for all of their scores in last weekend’s narrow loss to Ramor (Lovett and Keaney).

Gowna have ridden their luck at times in recent years but they have shown an ability to up it when it’s most needed and they get a tentative vote to advance in what is essentially a winner-takes-all clash.

Kingscourt, who have been in the quarter-finals every year since 2014, are another side who find themselves in a sticky situation. The Stars drew with Gowna in the first round thanks to a very late goal and beat Killygarry the next day out but they were well below-par against Mullahoran last Sunday and with Padraig Faulkner an injury doubt, they will be up against it when they face high-flying Ballyhaise.

Last year’s Ulster intermediate finalists – who have been handed an identical draw to Killygarry, incidentally – have been most impressive thus far, the highlight being a win over Gowna, although they also needed a last-minute goal to get over Castlerahan last Thursday.

Kingscourt are vastly experienced and have championship pedigree, of course. At the risk of falling into the trap of prematurely writing off one of the county’s great championship teams who always tend to perform when their backs are to the wall, Ballyhaise are taken mark their arrival as a senior team with another notable scalp.

Castlerahan have been handed a decent draw and should capitalise against a Laragh side who have just lost too many players this season. Fergal Flanagan is getting a good tune out of his own side and they were unfortunate not to get at least a point against Ballyhaise, having beaten Lavey and pushed Killygarry for 55 minutes.

Lastly, Lavey, who struggled badly in the opening two rounds, will be buoyed by a win over Laragh in the local derby last weekend. In a repeat of the recent Division 2 league final, they face Ballinagh, who also beat Laragh and lost heavily to Crosserlough.

It’s a golden opportunity for both sides to make the knock-out stages. Ballinagha re slight favourites but this game has draw written all over it.

Meanwhile, in the Intermediate Championship, 12 of the 14 teams are still in contention, with only Arva and Butlersbridge (who both boast 100pc records) mathematically guaranteed to advance.

FIXTURES

Kiernans Service Station Senior Championship 2024

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: Lacken GAA, Crosserlough V Mullahoran 14:30, Ref: James Clarke

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: Jim Smith Pk Killinkere, Castlerahan V Laragh Utd 14:30, Ref: Derek Argue

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: Hugh O Reilly Memorial Park, Ballyhaise V Kingscourt Stars 14:30, Ref: Brendan Sweeney

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: St. Felim's Park Drumalee, Ballinagh V Lavey 14:30, Ref: John Emmo Ref

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: Kingspan Breffni, Gowna V Killygarry 14:30, Ref: Margaret Farrelly

Sun, 08 Sep, Venue: St. Matthews Park Crosskeys, Cavan Gaels V Ramor United 14:30, Ref: Jim Giblin

KYTE Powertech Intermediate Championship 2024

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: St. Bridget's Park Knockbride, Drumgoon V Bailieborough 17:00, Ref: Mark Ferncombe

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: Athletic Grounds Killygarry, Denn V Cornafean 17:00, Ref: Noel Mooney

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: Packie Devlin Park Killeshandra, Templeport V Butlersbridge 17:00, Ref: Conor Lyons

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: Kingspan Breffni, Arva V Killinkere 17:00, Ref: Oliver g O Reilly

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: St Bartholomew Park Munterconnaught, Shercock V Ballymachugh 17:00, Ref: Barry Mc Menamin

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: Max McGrath Memorial Park Redhills, Drumlane V Cootehill 17:00, Ref: Conor Dourneen

Sat, 07 Sep, Venue: Dolan Park Ramor, Lacken V Cuchulainns 17:00, Ref: Daire Donohoe