EITHER one of Moorefield or Celbridge could be heading for an early exit from this year’s championship after they were paired together in Round 3 of the Pfizer Senior Championship at the draw in the Pfizer plant last Tuesday.
Both teams have already suffered one defeat each in the opening two rounds and they can scarcely afford another ahead of the final game in the group stage, particularly Celbridge who currently have a points difference of minus 2.
The 2008 champions and last year’s beaten semi finalists scraped past Clane in the opening round before losing to Carbury in second round. Moorefield were last champions back in 2007 but they opened this year with a shock loss to St Kevin’s before they recovered to beat Suncroft last time out.
Elsewhere, current holders St Laurence’s have started well with two wins out of two but they have been handed a tough after they were paired with one of only three other teams with a 100 per cent record, Carbury.
The other two teams with maximum points are Sarsfields and Maynooth and they have been paired with Clane and Leixlip respectively.
Having taken only one point from their opening two games, Athy desperately need a win against Round Towers. Kilcock v Ellistown, Allenwood v Naas and St Kevin’s v Suncroft complete the draw.
In the Joe Fox Tool & Plant Hire Intermediate championship, all five teams with maximum points have been kept apart. Those five, Johnstownbridge, Confey, Straffan, Ballyteague and Ballymore, will have their eyes firmly set on clinching a quarter final place a game early although the latter’s game against Rathgangan could be the tie of the round at this grade. The local derby between Kill and Straffan is another to look out for.
In the Tom Cross Junior Football Championship, the derby between parish rivals Grange and Castlemitchell stands out. Castlemitchell along with Caragh and Cappagh have maximum points in this grade after the opening two rounds.
Expect pre-championship favourites Two Mile House to get their challenge back on track with a win over Rathcoffy.
On the same night, the draws for the minor championship were made as well and Sarsfields’ reward for their shock quarter-final win against Balyna is a tie against an Athy team on the lookout for their third championship title in as many years.
Naas and Celbridge have been pitted against other in a repeat of last year’s semi-final, Celbridge will be out for revenge having missed out on the final last year.
ROUND 3 DRAWS
SFC: Celbridge v Moorefield; Round Towers v Athy; Kilcock v Ellistown; Sarsfields v Clane; St Laurence’s v Carbury; Allenwood v Naas; Maynooth v Leixlip; St Kevin’s v Suncroft
IFC: Johnstownbridge v Nurney; Confey v Ballykelly; Straffan v Kill; Ballyteague v Sallins; Ballymore v Rathangan; Monasterevan v Eadestown; Raheens V Castledermot; Kilcullen v Milltown
JFC: Robertsown v Cappagh; Clogherinkoe v Ardclough; Rheban v Caragh; Grange v Castlemitchell; Two Mile House v Rathcoffey
MFC SEMI-FINALS
A: Athy v Sarsfields; Celbridge v Naas
B: Monasterevan v St Kevin’s; Suncroft/Sallins v Na Fianna
C: Raheens v Ballykelly; Ellistown v Rathangan
SFC RESERVE Quarter-Finals
A: Moorefield v Confey; Maynooth v Sarsfields; Celbridge v Leixlip; Naas v St Laurence’s;
B: Ballyteague v Sarsfields; Raheens v Kilcullen; Moorefield v Rathangan; Kilcock v Johnstownbridge
C: Ballymore v Kill; Athgarvan v Straffan; Ellistown v St Laurence’s; St Kevin’s v Kildangan
D: Leixlip v Celbridge; Clogherinkoe v Eadestown; Castlemitchell v Sallins; Johnstownbridge v Ballykelly
E: Cappagh v Rathangan; Confey v Sarsfields; Athy v Ellistown; Allenwood v Raheens