ROUND 7 - Tues 17th / Wed 18th July 2012
LEAGUE SPONSORED BY: O'BRIEN'S BAR, ROSSCARBERY
CUP SPONSORED BY: BERNARD HAYES TRAVEL, CORK
SHIELD SPONSORED BY: A CUT ABOVE SALON
Round 7 of the West Cork Masters League sponsored by O'Brien's Bar Rosscarbery sees league leaders Drinagh Rangers enjoying a bye week while the chasing pack look to close the gap at the top of the table writes Ger McCarthy.
Tues July 16th
Clonakilty Town vs. Ardfield
Second placed Clonakilty Town can move within 3 points of league leaders Drinagh with a home win over Ardfield in Darrara on Tuesday evening. The home side are coming off a Masters Cup quarter-final victory on penalties at Courtmacherry but will need a vast improvement on that performance against a tough Ardfield unit. The Carrigroe men haven't won a league game since their opening day 3-2 defeat of Dunmanway Town but were unfortunate to exit the Masters Cup on penalties away to Skibbereen in the previous round. There is little to choose whenever these two local rivals have met over the past number of years so an open and exciting clash is keenly anticipated. It's a must win game for Clonakilty if they harbour any hopes of catching Drinagh for top spot and their greater need for the 3 points should result in the narrowest of home wins.
Wed July 17th
Bunratty United vs. Courtmacsherry
Courtmachserry travel to Schull on Wednesday evening looking to build on their positive display at home to Clon Town in the Masters Cup last time out. They face a Bunratty side that hasn't played since June 27th due to a bye week and recent postponements. United recorded a superb 3-2 win away to Castletown in their last league outing and will be looking to build on that encouraging display as well as solidifying their place in the top half of the division. Ray Kingston has weighed in with 3 goals this term with Ger O'Donovan and Nick Cole also on target in recent weeks. Courtmacsherry will look to the attacking tandem of Declan Hennessey and Norman Fleming for goals as the visitors search for their first league win of the summer. Home advantage should swing the result in Bunratty's favour.
Castletown Celtic vs. Cloughduv Celtic
Match of the week takes place in Castletownkenneigh where third placed Castletown Celtic entertain fourth placed and current champions Cloughduv Celtic. The two teams are locked on 10 points apiece although Cloughduv has played a game less. A draw is of little use to either side in their hopes of catching Drinagh for before season's end. Castletown bounced back from a recent home defeat to Bunratty by edging Dunmanway Town 3-2 in Mohona last week and will rely on top scorers Dan Bailey and Joe Gallagher to fire in the goals against Cloughduv. The champions warmed up for their latest league fixture with a hard fought 3-1 defeat of Clonakilty AFC to reach the last four of the Masters Cup. Their previous league outing resulted in a marvellous 4-3 defeat of Clonakilty Town to stay firmly in the title hunt. Nothing but a win will do away to Castletown however and the current form of Dermot Crowley, Donal Collins Martin McCarthy and Clement Doyle suggests an away win is in the offing.
Clonakilty AFC vs. Dunmanway Town
Clonakilty AFC's search for their first win of the summer sees the Ballyvackey club taking on Dunmanway Town in round 7 of the league and anxious for 3 points. Clon produced a battling display before eventually succumbing 3-1 to Cloughduv in the Masters Cup quarter finals last week but a chronic lack of goals has hindered any league progress this term. Dunmanway will be hoping to continue their recent upturn in form as an away win in Ballyvackey would elevate Town into the top five. Two previous losses to Castletown and Drinagh were endured despite encouraging displays so gaining all 3 points at the expense of a struggling Clon AFC is a must to retain any hopes of finishing in the top half of the table. An away win looks the likeliest outcome from this encounter.
Rosscarbery vs. Skibbereen
The meeting of Rosscarbery and Skibbereen in Carrigroe brings together two of the most in-form sides in the West Cork Masters League right now. Ross climbed off the bottom of the table thanks to an excellent 5-2 defeat of Clonakilty AFC before reaching the Masters Cup semi-finals following a 2-0 win away to Castletown Celtic. Maurice Moore, Geoff Wycherley and Sean Hearne are at the hub of Ross' renaissance and will need close marking from the Baltimore Road club on Wednesday evening. Skibbereen are enjoying their best run of form since the beginning of the summer after knocking out the previously undefeated Drinagh Rangers 1-0 in the last eight of the Masters Cup. The attacking duo of Billy Flaherty and Ger Murray along with the influential Jack Carroll are all in excellent form so a cracking game is anticipated in Carrigroe where a draw looks the likeliest result.
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LEAGUE SPONSORED BY: O'BRIEN'S BAR, ROSSCARBERY
CUP SPONSORED BY: BERNARD HAYES TRAVEL, CORK
SHIELD SPONSORED BY: A CUT ABOVE SALON
