*Cian Burke of St Breckan’s tackles Corofin’s Gearoid Cahill. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
HEADING into the final round of group games in the adult football championships this weekend eleven of the twelve teams are still in with a chance of making it to the knockout stages.
Doonbeg are the only club that cannot progress and they will be taking part in the relegation play off.
For Corofin and Kilmihil to avoid joining Doonbeg in the relegation battle, they must win this week and hope that other results go their way.
In Group 1 Kilmihil must beat Kilmurry Ibrickane and hope that Éire Óg justify favouritism and beat Lissycasey. Should that happen it will leave Kilmurry Ibrickane, Lissycasey and Kilmihil with one win each and then it would be down to score difference between the three to decide the order in which they will finish in the group. Currently Kilmihil are well off the pace in score difference having lost their opening game to Lissycasey by fifteen points.
A Kilmurry Ibrickane victory and a win for Lissycasey over Éire Óg would leave the three level on four points each and score difference would be needed to decide the order in which they would finish but all three would be still in the race with the third placed team in a preliminary quarter-final for the last quarter final spot.
In Group 2, it’s a similar scenario but things are much tighter on the score difference front.
Corofin must beat St Breckan’s this week and hope that St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield beat Kildysart. Should that happen it will be down to score difference between St. Breckan’s, Kildysart and Corofin to determine positions two, three and four and going into this week’s games St Breckan’s are on plus 12.
A Corofin win could make things very interesting in this group.
Victory for St Breckan’s over Corofin and Kildysart over St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield would leave Breckans, Kildysart and Doora/Barefield on four points each and here again, score difference will be needed to decide the order in which they finish.
The teams that finish in third position in Groups 1 and 2 will play-off for the final quarter final place and that play off will take place in two weeks time.
Three teams automatically qualify from Group 3 and all that has to be decided is the order in which Cratloe, Ennistymon and St Joseph’s Miltown finish. Doonbeg can’t avoid bottom spot even if they were to beat Cratloe and Miltown were to lose to Ennistymon which would leave both with one win each but Miltown have beaten Doonbeg and would go ahead of them on the head to head rule.
In the intermediate championship Liscannor and Killimer are out of contention and will finish bottom of their respective groups.
In Group 1 the outcome of the clash between the Banner and Coolmeen will determine who goes through in second place with Kilrush from the group.
It’s a similar situation in Group 3 where the winners of the O’Currys v Cooraclare game will finish in second place to Wolfe Tones.
There is a lot to play for in Group 2 from which three teams will qualify for the quarter finals and all four are still in contention. Naomh Eoin with two wins from two outings are through but there is a keen battle between Clondegad, Shannon Gaels and Ennistymon for the other two positions.
The meeting of Clondegad and Shannon Gaels this week is crucial as the losers could end up bottom of the table, a position jointly filled by the Gaels and Ennistymon at the moment.
