Champioship status at stake in relegation finals
Photo ©INPHO/James Crombie
While eight teams in each competition battle it out for places in the semi-finals of the Senior and Intermediate Championships this weekend, spare a thought for the four teams looking to retain their current status.
RICHARD COMMINS looks ahead to what are sure to be two nervy relegation deciders.
The term itself doesn’t really fit, does it – a “Relegation Final.” Who wants to be in a relegation final? Certainly not Allenwood, Confey, St Kevin’s or Monasterevan but that’s the fate that has befallen those four as they seek to preserve their status this weekend.
CONFEY are renowned as the team that always find that one win that keeps them afloat at senior level, whether it be hurling or football.
But despite some promising displays, notably in falling narrowly to defeat to Caragh in Group D, they find themselves in the last chance saloon and facing an ALLENWOOD team who have had a miserable season in league and championship, culminating in that narrow defeat to Kilcock last time out.
As mentioned elsewhere in this week’s edition, dropping out of Senior can have serious long-term consequences.
Maynooth are the last team to bounce straight back, in 2009, while none of the last six relegated teams have made it back since dropping down.
Confey were in this situation three years ago but sent Round Towers down instead and they’ve shown plenty of fight and football to suggest they might just survive again against an Allenwood team who couldn’t buy a win in the league or championship.
Neither ST KEVIN’S nor MONASTEREVAN would have envisaged a relegation decider for themselves at the start of the year, but neither can argue with four straight defeats either. It’s a remarkable slide for St Kevin’s who reached the Quarter Finals last year.
Monasterevan looked in trouble when finishing bottom of Division 3 and despite some returning stalwarts they haven’t been able to arrest that slide in the Championship.
Monasterevan were sucker-punched late on by Nurney in a crucial group game while St Kevin’s were perhaps a little unfortunate not to pick up any points in a highly competitive Group C.
Kevin’s were last a junior club in 2008 whereas for Monasterevan they would be returning to a grade they haven’t experienced since the 1950’s.
