2025 Junior A Football Championship

[MidCorkConnoisseur]

Brilliant win for Aghinagh over the weekend and that will certainly give them serious confidence going into the championship in 3 weeks time. i'd have themselves and Donoughmore neck and neck in the power rankings in muskerry at the moment. It will be interesting to see how both teams fare out against each other in the first round considering that it most likely wont be the only time they meet each other in this years Championship. Shadow boxing? or do they already know everything they could about each other at this stage.

 

[Gaelic Lover]

Brilliant win for Aghinagh over the weekend and that will certainly give them serious confidence going into the champiosnhip in 3 weeks time. i'd have themselves and Donoughmore neck and neck in the power rankings in muskerry at the moment. It will be interesting to see how both teams fare out against each other in the first round considering that it most likely wont be the only time they meet each other in this years Championship. Shadow boxing? or do they already know everything they could about each other at this stage.

Would imagine both will aim to lay down a marker, Aghinagh anyway, Donoughmore might balance bodies when juggling both codes

 

[SoloAndGo]

Brilliant win for Aghinagh over the weekend and that will certainly give them serious confidence going into the championship in 3 weeks time. i'd have themselves and Donoughmore neck and neck in the power rankings in muskerry at the moment. It will be interesting to see how both teams fare out against each other in the first round considering that it most likely wont be the only time they meet each other in this years Championship. Shadow boxing? or do they already know everything they could about each other at this stage.

I think it's hard to look past Aghinagh for the first round clash with Donoughmore anyway. Really strong league campaign so they will carry that into championship. Donoughmore in the county league hurling final so I suspect they are more focused on that at the minute. There will probably be some shadow boxing involved and I don't think either will be worried if they Win/Lose or draw as both will likely to meet again later in the championship with two second teams in Balinora & Kilmurry in the group as well.

In the JA County League final Barryroe take on Charleville, double header with the Hurling final in PUR. Should be an interesting one. I'd fancy Barryroe but Charleville are tipping away nicely under Pat Spratt.

Looking forward to Championship starting as whole

 

[MidCorkConnoisseur]

With the Muskerry Championship starting on saturday i said i'd give my early predictions:

Winner: Donoughmore - Think they just have that bit more overall quality than Aghinagh who rely heavily on Twohig. I do think that Aghinagh will beat Donoughmore in the first group game due to the fact Donoughmore are in the hurling county league final the weekend before and their main focus at the moment will be on that. But i reckon these 2 will meet again in the final and Donoughmore will come out on top.

Runner-up: Aghinagh - As mentioned above i think that they rely very heavily on Twohig who you would imagine Donoughmore will have a plan for. I do think Aghinaghs excellent league campaign is something to be excited about, but my instinct is just telling me that Donoughmore will pip them at the post again.

Dark Horse: Naomh Aban - Going under the radar a bit. Have been blitzing teams in the division 2 league this year. It will be interesting to see will they be able to carry this form into the Junior A championship. They have Kilmichael in the opening game and depending on who they use the night before for their Intermediates they could be very strong and catch Kilmichael on the hop.

Biggest Under Achiever: Grenagh - Coming off the back of winning the division 1 league, Grenagh will be looking to have a serious go at this championship. There aim will defenitely be to get to a Mid Cork final but i don't think that will happen. I just see them as a level behind the top 2 in Aghinagh and Donoughmore.

Relegation (if there is one): Dripsey - It was a toss up between themselves and Ballinora but i just don't see a world where Dripsey get a point in their group. Ballinora have Kilmurry in their group which will be a big game for both teams as you would imagine it will be their only win in the group of death. You would give ballinora a better chance of beating a kilmurry side than you would give Dripsey in beating a Clondrohid or Ballincollig. So thats why Dripsey are my favourites to go down.

 

[Iwonder]

CJAFL final:
Barryroe 2-07
Charleville 0-11

Barryroe March onto div 7 of the county football league next year with all there scores coming from the boots of the O Donovan cousins.

 

[Horse of Gold]

Finding it hard to separate the top teams in this grade this year. Really feels wide open (more so in previous seasons where Kilmac or Canovee were widely recognised as best in grade)

 

[Iwonder]

1. Aghinagh
2. Donoughmore
3. Barryroe
4. Ballygarvan
5. Charleville

 

[Gaelic Lover]

Too many games to do all the predictions, I’ll give my divisional predictions instead.

Muskerry- Aghinagh
Seandun- Mayfield
Carrigdhoun- Ballygarvan
Carbery- Barryroe
Avondhu- Charleville
Duhalllow-Castlemagner
Imokilly- Whoever gets knocked out of the hurling first, I’ll take a stab at Lisgoold

 

[Indazone]

With the Muskerry Championship starting on saturday i said i'd give my early predictions:

Winner: Donoughmore - Think they just have that bit more overall quality than Aghinagh who rely heavily on Twohig. I do think that Aghinagh will beat Donoughmore in the first group game due to the fact Donoughmore are in the hurling county league final the weekend before and their main focus at the moment will be on that. But i reckon these 2 will meet again in the final and Donoughmore will come out on top.

Runner-up: Aghinagh - As mentioned above i think that they rely very heavily on Twohig who you would imagine Donoughmore will have a plan for. I do think Aghinaghs excellent league campaign is something to be excited about, but my instinct is just telling me that Donoughmore will pip them at the post again.

Dark Horse: Naomh Aban - Going under the radar a bit. Have been blitzing teams in the division 2 league this year. It will be interesting to see will they be able to carry this form into the Junior A championship. They have Kilmichael in the opening game and depending on who they use the night before for their Intermediates they could be very strong and catch Kilmichael on the hop.

Biggest Under Achiever: Grenagh - Coming off the back of winning the division 1 league, Grenagh will be looking to have a serious go at this championship. There aim will defenitely be to get to a Mid Cork final but i don't think that will happen. I just see them as a level behind the top 2 in Aghinagh and Donoughmore.

Relegation (if there is one): Dripsey - It was a toss up between themselves and Ballinora but i just don't see a world where Dripsey get a point in their group. Ballinora have Kilmurry in their group which will be a big game for both teams as you would imagine it will be their only win in the group of death. You would give ballinora a better chance of beating a kilmurry side than you would give Dripsey in beating a Clondrohid or Ballincollig. So thats why Dripsey are my favourites to go down.

Very Good summary there. I think I’d agree with most of your calls . Very tight but Donoughmore to win and have a right crack of the county.

On the first round of games the obvious standout fixture is Aghinagh V Donoughmore in coachford tomorrow night. Probably 2 of the best 5 teams in the County at this grade at the moment. Most people would be expecting them to clash in knockout stages again so not all on the line tomorrow night but both teams will want to lay down a marker .. very hard to call a winner.. wouldn’t surprise me if it was a draw with the ultimate winner decided further down the line in a mid cork final..

In other games I’d expect Ballinora and Kilmurry to be close.. maybe just give Kilmurry the edge as Ballinora have so many away travelling this year from what I’m hearing .

Elsewhere I’d expect Clondrohid to be well over Dripsey who will struggle and I’d fancy Ballincollig to take Grenagh .. you’d imagine Kilmichael would have too much for Ballyvourney reserves but wouldn’t be massively surprised with an upset.

 

[Cork Fan00]

Very Good summary there. I think I’d agree with most of your calls . Very tight but Donoughmore to win and have a right crack of the county.

On the first round of games the obvious standout fixture is Aghinagh V Donoughmore in coachford tomorrow night. Probably 2 of the best 5 teams in the County at this grade at the moment. Most people would be expecting them to clash in knockout stages again so not all on the line tomorrow night but both teams will want to lay down a marker .. very hard to call a winner.. wouldn’t surprise me if it was a draw with the ultimate winner decided further down the line in a mid cork final..

In other games I’d expect Ballinora and Kilmurry to be close.. maybe just give Kilmurry the edge as Ballinora have so many away travelling this year from what I’m hearing .

Elsewhere I’d expect Clondrohid to be well over Dripsey who will struggle and I’d fancy Ballincollig to take Grenagh .. you’d imagine Kilmichael would have too much for Ballyvourney reserves but wouldn’t be massively surprised with an upset.

Would agree with most. Only thing is I think aghinagh will win today in Coachford. Think they will be scarred from how they lost last year and will mentally need to get over this challenge if they have any hope further down the line. They are coming back off a strong league win over kilmacabea and I believe Donoughmore are down a few bodies through injury. Donoughmore will be back to strength later in the tournament and think these two will meet again in the final which will be 50/50 in my eyes.