FBD Insurance Junior B2 Championship Preview

A wide open contest!

From the outset this year’s Junior B2 competition looks to be wide open with Cashel King Cormacs last year’s beaten finalists joining Silvermines in Junior B this year. This leaves 6 teams fighting to be crowned champions, Ballybacon Grange, Toomevara, Shannon Rovers, Clonoulty Rossmore, Eire Og Annacarty and Boherlahan Dualla. The competiton is made up of 1 group with the top 4 teams making the semi-finals. Annacarty looked very impressive when capturing the league title earlier this year beating Shannon Rovers 14 points to 1-04. It’s likely though that some of their players involved that day may feature on their senior team which could have a bearing on how they progress. Similar to Clonoulty Rossmore though being a senior club they are likely to have a strong second team and will be expected to reach the semi-finals. Kenny Ryan is the manager of Clonoulty’s second team while Aisling Ely captains the side. All of the teams in the Junior B2 are made up of clubs second teams except Ballybaon Grange who were only formed 10 years ago with last year being the first year having an adult team. Huge work has gone into the underage which will begin to see fruition at adult level. Earlier in the league this year they recorded 1 win and 2 narrow defeats. Their opening game on Sunday evening is at home to Toomevara. Toomevara decided to enter a second team last year and in doing so succeeded in enticing many former senior players out of retirement. Sisters Lizzy and Anna Woods along with Tricia Ryan and Louise Young bring a wealth of talent and experience to the side making them tough opposition and potential winners. They were beaten by Cashel in last year’s semi-final but will be looking to go a step further this year. Strong numbers at adult level and good success at juvenile level in recent years has allowed Shannon Rovers and Boherlahan Dualla to establish second adult teams. Shannon Rovers competed last year while it will be the first ever Junior B2 team for Boherlahan Dualla. Vincent Mckenna manages the Junior and Intermediate team and will be able to call upon Tipperary U16 players Meabh Cahalan and Nicola Kelly when they take on Clonulty Rossmore at home on Sunday. Boherlahan have a very tough opening game away to Annacarty. The team is managed by joint managers Philly Ryan and Grainne Manton who is a niece of goalkeeper Denise manton. While Niamh O’Dwyer captains the team.

Jnr B2 C/Ship

Eire Og Annacarty v Boherlahan Dualla at 6pm

Ref: Paul Carew

Shannon Rovers v Clonoulty Rossmore at 6pm

Ref: Philip Shannhan

Ballybacon Grange v Toomevara at 6pm

Ref: Pat lynch