There’s one spot left in the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship and its between Culloville and Collegeland to fill it.
League form would suggest it’ll be Kieran Hatzer’s side that make it through to the last four, but championship football can often spring a surprise.
Collegeland head into the game with nothing to lose. They’ve been relegated to Junior for next year, so they’ll throw their lot at this.
And they have enough quality in their ranks to make this difficult for Culloville and they’ll pose serious questions.
Collegeland star men
Jason Kelly and Shane Donnelly will lead the attacking unit while Tyrone McGeary hit 0-3 against Ballyhegan.
Niall Brady is between the sticks while they have a strong midfield pairing with the McGeary’s, Cathair and Paraic.
It’ll be up to one of them, or maybe both at times, to curtail the influence of Niall Rowland around the centre of the park.
Culloville probably have the best forward line in the championship, but Rowland’s playmaking ability is key.
The 2021 Intermediate Footballer of the Year plays as a quarter back for Culloville and launches their attacks from deep.
Culloville are deadly up front, as they’ve already demonstrated in their successful Division 2A campaign.
In their two meetings with Collegeland in the league, Culloville posted five goals. Dara Quinn, Fearghal Traynor, Ryan Garvey, Taidgh O’Neill and Fergal Kieran all hit the net.
Throw into the mix the experience and undoubted talent of Colm Watters along with Cathal Hatzer and Steven McCreesh and Culloville can attack from everywhere.
Fearghal Rowland is still doing the business at centre half back and will foray forward if the chance opens up.
Ruairi Garvey, who picked up a shoulder injury in the last round of the league against Belleek, will be a miss if unavailable.
Collegeland have nothing to lose and will give this everything. But it just mightn’t be enough to cause an upset.
