xFinals Preview

AS APPEARED IN THE EVENING ECHO EDITION: Tues 27th August 2010

All roads lead to Canon Crowley Park in Drinagh this Saturday for the culmination of the 2010 West Cork Over33 season writes Ger McCarthy.

The A Cut Above sponsored Over33 Shield and Bernard Hayes Travel Over33 Cup finals take place in Drinagh tomorrow afternoon with a large crowd expected for the end of season double-header. Ardfield take on Rosscarbery in the Shield decider at 4:30pm quickly followed by Drinagh Rangers versus Clonakilty Town in the cup final.

SHIELD FINAL

Ardfield begin as slight favourites to claim the Over33 Shield trophy against Rosscarbery in tomorrow’s curtain-raiser. The Carrigroe based club overcame a dogged Castletown Celtic in the semi-finals winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Tony Hayes and Paul McShane. Ardfield will look to the twin strike-force of Aidan Whelton and Diarmuid Keohane to net the match-winning goals tomorrow but face a Rosscarbery side who have improved dramatically this season.

Ross struggled for long periods in the Over33 League but tightened up at the back in the closing weeks of the campaign. A marked improvement in Ross’ performances saw them qualify for the Shield decider following a 3-2 penalty shoot-out victory away to Courtmacsherry. Geoff Wycherley is the side’s top scorer and with Mike Hubbard, Gordon O’Dwyer and Vince Hayes in fine form Rosscarbery have every reason to be confident of victory. Ardfield defeated Ross 3-1 in the league back in July but a much closer affair is keenly anticipated tomorrow.

CUP FINAL

Drinagh Rangers will have home advantage in the Over33 Cup final with Clonakilty Town providing the opposition. Rangers defeated Castletown Celtic 4-1 in the Preliminary round and knocked out Cloughduv 3-2 after extra time in the quarter-finals. Skibbereen were dispatched in the last four thanks to a converted Vince Collins penalty after extra time.

Clonakilty Town’s path to the Over33 Cup final began with a 3-0 victory away to Courtmacsherry in the last eight. Local rivals Clonakilty AFC provided the opposition in the semi-finals but Town emerged 2-1 winners to setup a mouth-watering clash with Drinagh.

Mike Doolan is Drinagh’s and the Over33 League’s top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions and has been in scintillating form alongside Vince Collins, Kevin Marron and Martin Cronin this term. Clonakilty Town’s goals have been more evenly spread between Martin Crowley, Brian O’Donovan, Leo Flynn and Jonathan Hunt.

Rangers go into their second consecutive Over33 Cup final having lost 1-0 to Ardfield in last year’s decider. Clonakilty Town relinquished their league title to Skibbereen a week ago and will be anxious to finish the season with some silverware. The sides played out an absolutely thrilling Over33 League encounter earlier in the season which Town narrowly edged 1-0 and tomorrow’s final should be just as close between two evenly matched sides.

Saturday 28th August

A Cut Above West Cork Over33 Shield Final

Ardfield vs. Rosscarbery in Canon Crowley Park, Drinagh at 4:30pm

Bernard Hayes Travel West Cork Over33 Cup Final

Drinagh Rangers vs. Clonakilty Town in Canon Crowley Park, Drinagh at 6pm

Ger McCarthy

A big thanks to the sponsors of the 2010 West Cork Over33 Tournaments:

• • The West Cork Over33 League is kindly sponsored by O'Briens Bar, Rosscarbery.

  • The West Cork Over33 Cup is kindly sponsored by Bernard Hayes Travel, Cork.

  • The West Cork Over33 Shield is kindly sponsored by A Cut Above, Clonakilty.