Imokilly hurlers remain a force in Premier Senior Hurling

GAA fans on Leeside are spoiled for choice with so much championship action to enjoy both at county and divisional level. 

In East Cork, with the well-supported Imokilly hurlers due to take to the field on Sunday against Avondhu (6.30pm) in Fermoy and a whole host of club games upcoming, that trend is certainly set to continue.

Imokilly's outing in the divisions/colleges semi-final will give Denis Ring's charges a chance to deliver on potential. The backroom team and squad have again prepared well, but injury along with county and club commitments, have meant that numbers have been limited for some of the build-up to what looks like an interesting encounter.

Recent years have seen Imkoilly come close... very close. A quarter-final loss after extra time and penalties to Blackrock in 2022 was followed by a semi-final defeat to Sarsfield's by one point again after extra time a year ago. Clearly, Imokilly are knocking loudly on the championship door and their selectors will this week hope that the players involved in championship action over the last few days will return unscathed.

Recent preparation has featured a number of challenge matches including the annual Abernethy Cup final in Castlemartyr, which saw the divisional side run out one-point winners over visitors Ballygunner after a very entertaining game in front of a large crowd. The side featured the usual mix of well-established players and some exciting young emerging talent, which are always in healthy supply in the eastern barony.

History tells us that Avondhu defeated Imokilly back in the 1996 replayed county final, a result that motivated the eastern division to respond with a double triumph in the two subsequent years when the side won the Sean Óg Murphy Cup.

The current Avondhu generation will be looking to overturn the form book of the past two seasons when they lost out to their immediate opponents and as a result, exited the championship conversation. A year ago, Imokilly won the Denis O'Riordan Cup with a 0-25 to 0-20 success at Páirc Uí Rinn, on a night when sharpshooters Sean Desmond, Jack Leahy and Shane Hegarty hit 14 points between them, while Stephen Condon and Eoin Carey contributed a combined 0-9 for Avondhu.

The game was much closer than twelve months previous at the same venue and at the same stage. Then, Imokilly romped to a 3-29 to 1-20 win, with Will Leahy firing 0-11 and Mark McCarthy, Sean Desmond and Diarmuid Healy raising green flags.

This year's encounter is at the penultimate state, with the winners knowing their final opponents in advance of throw-in as Muskerry and UCC are due to meet in Dungourney earlier on Sunday afternoon.

Back on the Imokilly club front, the shape of the Michael O'Connor Motor Factors Junior A Football Championship should become a bit clearer over the next few days. Thursday's Group 3 meeting of Aghada and Erin's Own will be the penultimate game in a section, where at the moment all four teams sit on two points. 

A decisive result for either in Dungourney will give them a place in the knockout stages, whilst a draw would still leave uncertainty with Castlemartyr and Carraig na bhFear due to play next week.

In Group 2 on Friday in Cobh, Fr O'Neill's and Cloyne are both in knockout territory, as they chase the second qualifying spot behind group winners Midleton, who have already accumulated five points from the three outings thus far.

Following the start of the East Cork Oil Junior A Championship at the weekend, the focus now swiftly turns to the B grade hurling championship over the next few days. This second string competition produces some very competitive fayre each year and was won by Killeagh last year when they got the better of Castlemartyr in the decider.

Killeagh are first into action with what will be the third selection, coming up against the fourth string from Sarsfield's in Midleton on Friday evening. Castlemartyr play Youghal in Killeagh and Erin's Own cross camáns with Carrigtwohill in Cobh both on Saturday. Then on Sunday, it's Watergrasshill v Aghada in Carrigtwohill and Castlelyons versus St Catherine's in Dungourney.

Finally, there are also six games listed across the weekend in the Junior C Hurling Championship. Dungourney play Lisgoold and St Ita's neet Cobh on Friday, Midleton take on St Catherine's and Bride Rovers meet Russell Rovers on Saturday, with the action concluding on Sunday when it's Killeagh v Carrigaig bhFear and Erin's Own against Fr O'Neill'