All to Play for as Business End of the Season gets Underway!

The destination of the three divisional titles along with the prestigious Mick Mooney Challenge Cup competition and the three divisional cup tournaments will all come under the microscope in the coming weeks, writes Finbarr Buckley.

The Premier Division is finely poised with four clubs still in contention to succeed the all conquering D*****’s C** who won the title for the past 4 seasons. Leaders ARC Rovers are currently four points clear of second placed Jay Bazz Barbers and Swift, who have matches in hand. The goals of Timothy Twomey and Paudie Cotter have catapulted last season’s strugglers into a real force this season. Jay Bazz have only recently come into a run of form and what a time to do so. HELIO Inter Cork have fallen back in recent weeks but possess the potential to hang in there in there in their first season up.  A very talented outfit who possess the gifted Juan Da Villa among their personnel, HELIO are worthy title contenders in their first season in the top flight.  The last of the four, Swift, who courageously jumped a division to play in the Premier after winning the Second Division championship last season, raced into an early lead and looked every bit a title contender early on. Despite slipping back in recent weeks while others gained ground, Rob Twomey’s charges are well placed to make an assault having two matches in hand on ARC and are only four points adrift of their opponents.

The battle to stay in the Premier is equally as enthralling with just three points separating four teams. Bottom of the table Satellite Taxis are in real trouble with just one win in eight but the remaining three, Healy O’Connor Solicitors, Cork Hospitals and Andy Sull’s Hair cannot rest easy and will need to pick up a least two wins in their remaining fixtures to have any chance of playing top flight football next season.

The First Division was looking to be developing into a two horse race between recent Shield finalists Longboats and DHF Grangevale. Longboats have been out in front following an impressive last gasp 4-3 win over EVcore. However, the Vale, after their exploits in the Munster Junior Cup, have made up ground to record six straights wins. However, their first defeat of the season to a re-ignited MHS has brought the Ringmahon outfit back into contention with over a third of the campaign still to be contested. At the other end, the Weight Inn Dripsey have been drawn into a scrap with bottom two O’Brien Scaffolding and Marlboro Trust. OBS’s recent win over Trust has given them hope of survival and looks to have consigned their opponents to finish in the bottom two, having only won one league match all season.

Irish Sepsis Foundation Ballyphehane Celtic have one hand on the Second Division trophy having gone on an eight match winning streak to pull level with Data Centre Technologies FC. With matches in hand over both opponents, James Corcoran’s charges should lift the title with matches to spare. Four teams look to battle in out for the automatic second promotion, DCT, Council, Sabor Brazil Giants and The Lab. It’ll be hard to pick who comes out on top but makes for a fascinating tussle as interesting as any in the other two divisions.

The Mick Mooney Challenge Cup Semi-Finals representatives are a reversal of the Shield last four with Longboats the only side from the First Division to make it through together with Premier outfits, Swift, Jay Bazz Barbers and Healy O’Connor Solicitors. The northside derby between Swift and Jay Bazz catches the eye, but Longboats will be looking to appear in another final this season against Healy’s who will be determined to make it through to their first Challenge Cup showdown.

The Divisional cups are likely to throw up new winners in all three divisions which should finish the 2024/25 campaign on a high!