Last round of games in S.F.C. this weekend.

The final round of games in the league section of this years County Senior Football Championship takes place this weekend and in the majority of cases, the games are dead rubbers as going into this weekends round of games, the eight teams that will contest the championship are know, the only thing to be worked out is the pairings in the last eight.

The relegation pairings will also have to worked out and coincidently the pairing for the relegation play off will be found out after the result of two games will become known.

In group one, three games will take place. Nire and Rathgormack clash at Lemybrien. The Nire currently sit top of the pile and regardless of the outcome of this game are assured of top place in group one. While their second string team is out of their championship, it is not envisaged that too many changes will be made to the team as they will not want to loose to their near neighbours. Rathgormack up to last weekend were going well in the championship. Ardmore brought their unbeaten record to an end and they will want to go into the quarter finals with a win. However, it is expected that The Nire could have too much in this game for what is an improving Rathgormack side going.

At Fraher Field, Ballinacourty and Ardmore clash. While both sides are through to the last eight, both sides will want to end the league stages of this years championship with a win. The reigning champions have struggled somewhat in the championship to date and will know that if they are to retain the Conway Cup a major improvement is required. Ardmore have been going well and last week secured their place in the last eight with what was a surprize win over Rathgormack. Can they but back to back wins together. That’s the six million dollar question. In truth, it is hard to see them win, but they will be on a bit of a high now and with Ballinacourty struggling somewhat, nothing is impossible.

The big game of the weekend in group one is the meeting of Saint Saviours and Gaultier in Walsh Park. The winner of this game will secure their place in next years championship. Saint Saviours will secure their place in the 2013 championship if the game ends in a draw. A close game is likely to be fought out. Gaultier will go into the game on the back of a good performance last weekend where they were unlucky not to beat Ballinacourty and get the nod to win here.

In group two, regardless of what happens at Bushy Park, Clashmore are going to top the group. They have four wins from four games and look as if they could have a good run at this years championship. Kilrossanty in mid week had an excellent win over Dungarvan but wont get carried away with the win. Its hard to not see Clashmore win in this game, but as always pointed out don’t write off Kilrossanty’s chances of collecting another brace of points.

An Rinn and Stradbally clash at Bushy Park. Both of these sides are going well in this years championship. The Gaeltacht side have looked good all year but slopped up somewhat last time out going under to Clashmore by a single point. Stradbally look like a side coming good at the right time and last weekend they were able to give game time to a few players that have seen little championship action this year. They get the nod to win here, but it could be close.

Brickeys and Dungarvan meet at Fraher Field. This is another game where it is all to play for as the winner will retain their senior status for another year while the looser will have to play off with either Saint Saviours or Gaultier to see who drop down to intermediate. Both sides have shown disappointing form this year and of the two, it is the Brickeys that look the better side and they get the nod to win here.

There could be some good news for the sides that finish bottom of groups one and two of this years championship in the weeks to come.

Ballinacourty are going great guns in the Intermediate Football Championship and are serious contenders to win the Western and County Finals. If they were to do this, it remains to be seen if they would elect to have a second team play senior football. If they don’t, then there might be no need for a relegation play off as the County Board will want to keep an even number in the championship. We will have to wait and see what happens in the coming weeks on this front.

Fixtures.

Group One: on Saturday

Nire V Rathgormack in Lemybrien at 7pm

Ballinacourty V Ardmore in Fraher Field at 7pm

Saint Saviours V Gaultier in Walsh Park at 7pm

Group Two: on Sunday

Clashmore V Kilrossanty in Bushy Park at 7pm

An Rinn V Stradbally in Lemybrien at 7pm

Brickeys V Dungarvan in Fraher Field at 7pm

County Senior Football Championship Group One

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
The Nire	4	4	0	0	75	26	49	8
Ardmore	4	3	1	0	50	45	5	6
Rathgormack	4	2	1	1	40	39	1	5
Ballinacourty	4	2	2	0	48	48	0	4
Saint Saviours	4	0	3	1	25	57	-32	1
Gaultier	4	0	4	0	39	62	-23	0

County Senior Football Championship Group Two

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Points For	Points Against	Points Diff	Points
Clashmore	4	4	0	0	55	38	17	8
Stradbally	4	3	1	0	62	34	28	6
An Rinn	4	3	1	0	58	48	10	6
Kilrossanty	4	2	2	0	55	37	18	4
Brickeys	4	0	4	0	30	59	-29	0
Dungarvan	4	0	4	0	35	79	-44	0

Quarter Final Pairings – (Heading into the last round of games).

The Nire V Kilrossanty

Clashmore V Ballinacourty

Ardmore V An Rinn

Stradbally V Rathgormack.

(Please note depending on the results of games this weekend, these fixtures would change)