It was a weekend for the draws last week. Having taken in one of the best matches of the Rugby World Cup and a share of the spoils, a brilliantly rare opportunity presented itself to put Georgia, Portugal, Ramor United, and Laragh United into one sentence.
The old stereotype of Cavan people being tight is perhaps more applicable to the Cavan Senior Football Championship. On Saturday evening, a repeat of last year’s final between Gowna and Killygarry was as tight as they come.
2-11 to 0-17, decent scoring in less than decent conditions, with everything on the line. All for the coveted prize of having to do it all over again.
With the Junior and Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals taking place in Kingspan Breffni, the window for a double header was shut before it was ever ajar. And so, Gowna and Killygarry travel to Lacken on Sunday, before the rare clash of two ‘United’s on a GAA pitch that same afternoon in Lavey.
Ramor are heavy favourites to dispose of Laragh, conceding three goals and getting off to a nightmare start last Friday night. Gowna will also be expected to get over the line in a tighter affair.
In Fermanagh, this time last week, Roslea and Belnaleck were gearing up for a do-or-die clash. For the winner, a quarter-final. The loser? The dreaded relegation play-offs, essentially making this a relegation play-off in itself.
On Sunday, the pitch in Donagh was deemed unplayable. Hardly ideal, and even less so when Agnes blew in and had her way during the week.
Pre championship, Belnaleck selector Malachy McConnell claimed “confidence levels were high”, having just been pipped by Kinawley to a league final spot, while Darragh McGurn was back from his travels.
McConnell seemed optimistic himself at the prospect of McGurn’s return, but over a month on, and the Fermanagh ace has still yet to make a club championship appearance in 2023. Manager Nigel Seaney was hardly rain dancing in order to buy McGurn another week, but his return would be more than welcome.
With all other fixtures played, Derrygonnelly and Enniskillen Gaels are straight through to the semi-finals. This weekend’s winner will meet Kinawley in one quarter, with Ederney meeting last year’s finalists Erne Gaels in the other.
Last year’s IFC winners Devenish are already awaiting in the fateful relegation play-offs.
