By Eugene Kyne

Sunday, September 10
12:30 p.m.: JF B Final Stamford vs. Cavan or Rockland

THE first championship final of the year brings together Stamford, who topped the regular season table, and the winners of the Cavan/Rockland semi which was played Tuesday night.

Stamford have only one championship blemish on their record, and that was a four point loss to Dublin back in May. They got revenge for that loss in the semi last week, a game they won 0-5 points to 0-4.

Stamford beat Cavan 1-11 to 1-9 in an earlier group game and accounted for Rockland by 4-8 to 2-9, so they are well aware of there talents of both clubs. Stamford are built around Keith Hennessy and Justin O’Halloran, players who won senior championship medals with the club in 2003.

They are supplemented by players like Derek Williams, Tommy Williams and Sean Collins, all of whom are capable of turning in match winning displays.

Regardless of their opponents the game promises to be a competitive encounter, with the winners moving up into the A division.

4 p.m.: JF A Semi Kerry vs. Astoria Gaels or Armagh

KERRY qualified by virtue of their hard won quarterfinal in Rockland last Sunday when they accounted for Tyrone. Three players were sent off, with one from Kerry, but the Kingdom did enough to come through with five points to spare.

They lost by a point to Astoria in the championship in May at the Mecca but were easy winners in August over Armagh by 3-13 to 0-11.

Anthony Glacken, Kevin Cafferty, Gary Kelly, Tommy Quaid, Willie O’Donnell and Kieran O’Shea are the backbone of the Kerry junior squad, and they will of course benefit by training with the senior team in the club.

They finished in fifth place in the division with a record of five wins and three losses and are capable of going all the way.

Astoria and Armagh drew on Saturday in Rockland in a downpour, 1-6 a piece, and both will look to go one better in the replay on Wednesday night. The winner then graduates to this game on Sunday.

Armagh was in the final for the last two years, while Astoria was defeated by eventual winners St. Barnabas by two points at the semi stage in 2005.

5:30 p.m.: JF A Semi Down vs. Rangers

DOWN ended the regular season as the number two team in the league, with their only blemishes two draws with Armagh and Astoria. They showed their commitment to the championship when they rested some of the bigger names in the KO competition when they lost to Tyrone, and they had an easy win over Brooklyn/LI in the quarter final last Sunday on a sunny day in Rockland.

Eugene O’Hagan, Francie Sheridan, Garth and cousin Mark Dobbins form the nucleus that is surrounded by Noel Magee, Liam Farrell and Colm Shannon. They have no real weakness and have been tipped by many to go all the way since day one.

Rangers are looking to upset the formbook in this one. They have not been an easy opponent for anyone this year, and indeed were the only team to beat St. Barnabas last season in the championship.

Tomas Maher, Mike Bishop, Ronan Caffrey, Aidan Murphy and Joe Walsh will not be overawed by the occasion or opponent, but the Mournemen may have to many weapons in this one.