Riverside and Clon clash in attractive Beamish Cup tie

By Ger McCarthy

THE second round of the West Cork League’s Beamish Cup assumes top billing this weekend with seven ties down for decision.

One of the marquee matchups of Sunday’s second round is undoubtedly the meeting of Riverside Athletic and Clonakilty AFC. 

Athletic currently top the Premier League table with Clon four points behind and having recently qualified for the Parkway Hotel/Maybury Coaches Cup final. The two sides drew 0-0 earlier in the league campaign so don’t be surprised if extra-time and penalties are required to decide the outcome of this weekend’s clash.

Drinagh Rangers versus Skibbereen is always a West Cork League fixture to savour and Sunday’s cup tie at Canon Crowley Park will be no exception. The Baltimore Road club may be under new management and struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League table but a Skibbereen team with nothing to lose will test Drinagh’s resolve in one-off tie. 

Cup holders Dunmanway Town face an onerous task away to Division 1 side Kilmichael Rovers on Sunday. The Mohona club received a bye in the previous round but will need to be at their best to overcome a Kilmichael outfit that knocked Drinagh Rangers B out of the competition 4-1 on February 28. 

Elsewhere in the Beamish Cup, a full-strength Bantry Bay Rovers should have too much firepower for Clonakilty Town in Kealkil as should Premier League side Bunratty United away to Clonakilty AFC B who ply their trade two divisions below the Schull club. Castlelack and Ballydehob drew 3-3 in Division 2 earlier this season and another high-scoring clash is anticipated in Castletownkenneigh this weekend. 

Lyre Rovers are capable of springing a cup shock at the expense of Division 1 side Baltimore on their home pitch. Rovers defeated Durrus 2-0 in the opening round thanks to Gearoid Barry and Gary McCarthy efforts and Baltimore will need to be wary of a Lyre undefeated in the league since early October.

Away from the cup, Sullane will extend their advantage atop the Division 1 League table to four points provided the leaders overcome struggling Durrus in Coolea on Sunday morning. 

In West Cork League Division 2, Spartak Mossgrove will leapfrog Lyre Rovers into first place if the visitors defeat Drinagh Rangers B in Canon Crowley Park. In the same division, third-placed Ardfield cannot afford slip-ups away to Caheragh Celtic in their pursuit of the top two.

FIXTURES

Sunday, March 13th 

West Cork League Beamish Cup Round 2

Bantry Bay Rovers v Clonakilty Town, in Kealkil at 11am

Castletown Celtic v Ballydehob, in Castletownkenneigh at 11am

Lyre Rovers v Baltimore, in Lyre at 11am

Clonakilty AFC B v Bunratty United, in Ballyvackey at 2.30pm

Riverside Athletic v Clonakilty AFC in Castletownkenneigh at 2pm

Drinagh Rangers v Skibbereen, in Canon Crowley Park at 2pm

Kilmichael Rovers v Dunmanway Town, in Inchisine at 2.30pm

PremierHiSpecCars.com Premier Division: Mizen AFC v Leeside in Mizen at 2.30pm.

OBrienWaterServices.com Division 1: Sullane v Durrus in Coolea at 11am.

West Cork League Division 2: Caheragh Celtic v Ardfield in Caheragh at 11am, Drinagh Rangers B v Spartak Mossgrove in Canon Crowley Park (TBC), Dunmanway Town B v Aultagh Celtic at 2.30pm.

Irish Examiner Ladies League: Bunratty United Ladies v Drinagh Rangers Ladies in Town Park, Schull, at 11am.