McCarthy Insurance Group Football League Finals down for decision this weekend

An action-packed two days ahead with seven finals down for decision in the McCarthy Insurance Group Football Leagues.

Due to the Cork hurlers playing their eagerly anticipated All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Limerick on Sunday in Croke Park at 4pm, it obviously means there will be no deciders played that day so the games will be taking place this evening and tomorrow.

With the championship getting underway for the clubs on the weekend of Saturday, July 27, these finals are ideal preparation for all involved and what a boost it would be for the winning teams heading into the opening round of the group stages of the football championship in three weeks’ time.

There are four deciders taking place this evening with the standout one being the meeting of Nemo Rangers and Carrigaline in what should be a decent Division 1 final in Shanbally.

Nemo are aiming for a second league crown in three seasons and they will be looking to atone for last year’s defeat in the league decider to St Finbarr’s. The Trabeg side didn’t play to their true potential that evening, and after losing the Premier SFC final to Castlehaven last October, they won’t want a lose a third successive decider in all competitions.

Carrigaline might be a senior A football side, having lost their place in the top tier last year, but they have richly deserved their spot in this showpiece final. They will be hoping to deny Nemo a seventh successive victory in this one and have the players to do so including Cork footballer Brian O’Driscoll. They pushed the city side all the way in their league meeting in May eventually losing by five points.

The Division 2 clash pits Clonakilty and St Michael’s together in Ballygarvan. The West Cork side won eight out of nine league outings with the only blot in the copy book coming in the last league match away to Valley Rovers though they were missing players that evening.

St Michael’s gained an impressive tally of 14 points from nine games to reach this stage. They lost by four points to Clonakilty when they met in Mahon back in March.

Kilmurry is the venue for the meeting of Buttevant and Adrigole in a tasty looking Division 5 encounter. Buttevant won all nine of their league games with Adrigole finishing up on 14 points.

The last decider taking place this evening comes from Division 7 as Canovee lock horns with Cullen in Clondrohid. Both sides finished on 12 points from their seven matches. If the league clash is anything to go by, it should be a cracker. Canovee won 3-17 to 3-13 back in May.

There are three finals tomorrow with Kanturk and Castletownbere going head-to-head in Ballingeary in the Division 3 decider. The sides couldn’t be separated when they met in April.

A large crowd should flock to the Castle Grounds in Macroom for a Muskerry derby between Naomh Abán and Iveleary in the Division 6 decider. There’s no love lost between these two and tomorrow’s tie shouldn’t be any different. Goals proved crucial when the sides played each other in April with Naomh Abán prevailing 2-8 to 0-9.

Finally, in Division 6, Gabriel Rangers take on Ballinora in an interesting final pairing. Both teams finished on 12 points from seven league meetings with the Ballydehob based outfit winning by a point when the sides went into battle back in May. It should be tight again tomorrow in Clonakilty.

MCCARTHY INSURANCE GROUP FOOTBALL LEAGUE FINALS FIXTURES 

FRIDAY 

Division 1: Nemo Rangers v Carrigaline, Shanbally, 7.30pm.

Division 2: Clonakilty v St Michael’s, Ballygarvan, 7.30pm.

Division 5: Adrigole v Buttevant, Kilmurry, 7.30pm.

Division 7: Canovee v Cullen, Clondrohid, 7.30pm.

SATURDAY

Division 3: Kanturk v Castletownbere, Ballingeary, 4pm.

Division 4: Naomh Abán v Iveleary, Macroom, 6pm.

Division 6: Gabriel Rangers v Ballinora, Clonakilty, 2pm.