The clash of champions Éire Óg and St. Joseph’s Miltown doesn’t have the jeopardy involved elsewhere as both sides enter Round 3 with two from two winning records, having already secured their berths in the knockout stages. It becomes an interesting jostle for top spot in the group and status for the quarter-final draw which will take place the following weekend . It’s therefore a free shot for Miltown who have been building nicely in the campaign. They were a tad fortunate and can thank Cóilin Hayes for a clean sheet which edged them infront of Cratloe last time out but did so without the services of Gordon Kelly and Cormac Murray in their starting lineup. Sean O’Brien has a side that will take beating if they hit form. Ironically that may not be the worst scenario for an Éire Óg outfit that could do with a test before the perils of knockout football. Doonbeg made it an uncomfortable hour for them a fortnight ago but as champions do – they found a way. Mark McInerney remains their focal point in attack pilfering for 1-04 from play in that game . In the absence of David McNamara, Darren O’ Brien also turned in a superb performance and accounted for 0-4. They are still the front runners.
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Éire Óg, Inis v St. Joseph's Miltown Malbay - Sat 3:00pm in Kilmihil
The real drama takes place elsewhere in the group and more specifically in Clarecastle where Cratloe square up to Doonbeg in a very straightforward win-or-bust encounter. With both sides sitting on zero points after opening defeats, the winner will seal the final third-place qualification ticket, while the loser faces the relegation battle. Both will be happy enough with their performances last round but alas still have nothing to show for it. Cratloe kicked 0-20 in the defeat to Miltown but could have added at least four goals to that tally had they been more clinical. Jamie Moylan remains a ball winner at the edge of the square who is becoming a real target man but he may have to do it without the assistance of Podge Collins who retired early from Cratloe’s hurling victory over Feakle in the weekend past. A frustrating reoccurrence of a hamstring tear to blame for Collin’s who returned from the same injury to kick 0-04 vs Miltown a fortnight ago. Cratloe will be looking to Ryan Harkin who kicked a 0-06 tally and Diarmuid Ryan to fill that scoring void. It all means that Doonbeg, who prevailed by twelve points when these sides met in the Garry Cup last June, will sense a real opportunity. It’s in the Magpie’s DNA to turn up and be aggressive and if Eoin Killeen can turn in a similar performance to that which saw him bag 2-02 against Éire Óg, they’ll be a tough nut to crack. Darragh Burns, Mikey Tubridy and Kevin McInerney are also dangerous proposition for Cratloe in the right form.
