There were no major surprises in the west of the county last weekend as the first rounds of this year’s Intermediate and Junior Football championships were fought out at venues across the division.
In the Intermediate championship, Dungarvan, who are the early favourites to capture the title in the west, had a comprehensive 3-13 to 2-5 win over neighbours Colligan at the Cappoquin venue on Friday evening.
Twenty-four hours later at the same venue in the second group ‘A’ game Ballyduff Upper had a three-point win over Kilgobinet, running out winners on a 2-8 to 1-8 scoreline.
In group ‘B’ of the intermediate championship, Clashmore, who were relegated from the senior ranks in 2009, got their campaign off to a good start when they had an 0-8 to 0-5 win over neighbours Geraldines at the Ardmore venue.
Because Ballinacourty and The Nire had not played in the senior championship, the meeting of their respective second-string sides, who play in the Intermediate championship, did not take place. The two sides play at Colligan this coming Friday evening.
In the Junior Football championship there was a local derby at the Lismore venue on Saturday evening when Affane took on Melleray/Boherwillian. The game resulted in an impressive 2-15 to 3-1 win for Affane. In the other group ‘A’ game pre-championship favourites Sean Phobal had a narrow 0-12 to 1-8 win over Tallow in Ardmore.
In group ‘B’ Sliabh gCua, who are back playing Junior after thirty years in the Intermediate and Senior ranks, had an 0-11 to 0-5 win over Shamrocks at Colligan and at the Ballyduff Upper grounds a high-scoring game ensued between Lismore and Modeligo, where Lismore came out on top by 3-8 to 0-14.
