Crunch time for Cavan Junior clubs

IT’S the final round of group stage clashes in the Cavan Junior Championship this weekend and there’s still plenty at stake for many of the teams involved.

A few of the teams have already qualified, including Mountnugent who have won all three of their matches to date, but others, including last year’s beaten finalists Drung, will need to get something from their last game to ensure they advance to the last eight.

The penultimate round of Senior Championship group stage matches will also take place over the coming weekend and the results could have significant repercussions in the race for the St Oliver Plunkett Cup.

Heavy hitters Kingscourt have only picked up a point and could feasibly find themselves in a fight for Senior Championship survival if they succumb to Lacken on Saturday.

Others, like Cavan Gaels, Killygarry and Ramor can secure their safe passage to the last eight with a game to spare (albeit Ramor have been pitted against Crosserlough, another leading contender for the crown).

A number of teams are already out of the running, namely Ballinagh and Butlersbridge, barring an unlikely sequence of events. In the Intermediate ranks, there’s one round of group stages left to play though those teams are getting a weekend off.

Ballyhaise and Templeport are the pace-setters so far with Cuchulainn’s and Castlerahan also faring well in their opening three matches. Last year’s Junior champions Denn have also positioned themselves for a place in the knock-out rounds.