After last week’s opening round there are three more games in the U21 football championship this weekend. Three teams will make their first appearance of the year with reigning champions Ennistymon doing battle with Wolfe Tones while the 2010 runners up Cratloe will also be in action whey they square up to Clondegad on Sunday. The other game sees Miltown and St. Breckan’s facing each other in Ennistymon on Saturday. Below are the results from the previous round with the previews for this round of games underneath it.
U21 Results
U21 A
St. Breckan’s 1-14 v Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-5
Clondegad 2-8 v St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-4
St. Joseph’s Miltown 2-17 v Kilrush 3-4
U21 B
Kildysart/Coolmeen 3-10 v Kilmihil 2-8
Doonbeg 1-12 v Kilkee 0-14
Corofin 2-12 v Cooraclare 0-6
U21 A Previews
St. Joseph’s Miltown v St. Breckan’s @ Ennistymon, Saturday 3.30 pm
Two up and coming bunch of players here on either side that makes for an interesting and exciting game. In round 1, Miltown racked up 2-17 against Kilrush with St. Breckan’s hitting Kilmurry Ibrickane for 1-14. It is no wonder why this is being labelled as the game of the round considering the high scoring both racked up last time out. Key to the St. Breckan’s cause are the Cormican twins and Stephen Tierney, if Miltown are to win this one they will need to combat this trio. Other important figures for Breckans are the Sean Howley, Michael Reddan, John Stack and Noel McDonagh. However, Miltown have some quality performers of their own including Joe Curtin, Peter Cleary, Micheal Malone, Darragh McDonag and the Cleary twins Conor and Eoin. It is a hard match to call and is shaping up to be the game of the round. Both teams have a good win under their belts and will be hoping to gather more momentum as they go in search of glory. Miltown seem to have the better balanced side and will hope to get one step closer to last year where Lissycasey upset them in the semi final. They will however need to contain Breckan’s main men who on their day are match winners. Expect Miltown to advance here with a win in what should be a tight affair.
Verdict: St. Joseph’s Miltown
Ennistymon v Wolfe Tones @ Eire Óg, Sunday 1 pm
A first outing for both these two sides that in the recent few years have made great strides at underage level. Ennistymon clinched the county title last year with a good win over Lissycasey. Prior to this they claimed a number of underage titles and actually got to the U21 final in 2009 as well where they were well beat by Cratloe. On the other hand Wolfe Tones from Shannon have also reaped the rewards with underage glory including an U16 A championship last year after a lapse of six years. It is expected a few of that side will see action this weekend. Interestingly both clubs met in the senior B final last year where the Shannon side proved too strong on the day for their North Clare opponents. A notable feature was the presence of youthful exuberance on both panels for that game with a number of those expected to take to the field for this tie. Most of the victorious 2010 Ennistymon side are available again as they try defend their crown at this grade. They have county experience in the shape of Micheal O’Loughlin, Sean Driscoll, Sean McConigley, Michael McDonagh, Ronan Linnane and Joey Rouine who are all expected to be in their team as they go in search of glory yet again. Clare U21’s Daniel Gallery and Sean Brennan will be the key men for Wolfe Tones who will also look to county minors Craig O’Brien and William Flynn along with Stephen McInerney and Aaron Leahy for inspiration. It will be interesting to see how this game enfolds but on paper anything other than an Ennistymon win would be a surprise as they have so many of their 2010 team available.
Verdict: Ennistymon
Clondegad v Cratloe @ Gurteen, Sunday 7 pm
This is another interesting tie with some quality footballers expected to be on display. Clondegad impressed last time out against a fancied St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield while Cratloe had a bye in the previous round. However both sides will be sweating on the availability of key players for this game. For Clondegad It remains to be seen if Tony Kelly and Gearoid O’Connell line out as both are key players on the Clare minor hurling side that will be in action in the Munster final next week while county senior panellist Shane Brennan is struggling with injury. If these three are not available for Sunday then it would represent a huge blow to the hopes of a victory for the Mid Clare outfit. In addition to the above trio they will look to chief score getter Paudge McMahon, Conor Gavin, Cormac Ryan and Kevin Donnelly to spring a surprise here. Cratloe are tipped by many to go all the way this year, in the 2010 semi final Ennistymon got revenge for the defeat Cratloe inflicted on them in the 2009 final. Similar to their opponents Cratloe have worries of their own, they will hope that key men and Clare senior hurlers Liam Markhan, Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney will come through the All-Ireland senior hurling championship qualifier game against Galway on Saturday unscathed. They have a quality side with players such as Conor Ryan, Padraig Collins, Jamie Joyce and the De Loughrey twins Dean and Wesley amongst their team while Markham mans the middle with McInerney and McGrath their most potent forwards. Although Clondegad are an up and coming team it is very hard to look beyond Cratloe who should have too much in the tank for last years U21 B finalists.
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