By Eugene Kyne

Sunday, September 17

1:30 p.m.: JF A Final Down vs. Armagh

WHILE predictions are an easy way to get in trouble, away back in April the Irish Voice went out on a limb and made some for the Junior A competition. With a return of six of the eight picked making the playoffs it was as close to money as you would imagine.

Despite being told that the top two would not make it by many, sure enough number one Down and two Armagh are here after a long season where over 60 games were played at four venues.

Down came the regular route. They finished in the top two in the group and lost just two points with draws against Astoria Gaels and today’s opponents in their first game of the year at Van Cortland. It was 1-13 to 3-07 on that occasion.

They have been quietly putting the wins together with a playoff run that includes an easy win over Brooklyn/Long Island in the quarters, and a tougher encounter against Rangers in the semis when they prevailed by four points.

Eugene O’Hagan, Francie Sheridan and Garth Dobbins are effective at the back. Noel Magee, Liam Farrell, Seamus Kelly and Mark Dobbins are strong in the front and they have been piling on the scores on a regular basis. Under the stewardship of Fergus Daly they will be well prepared for this encounter.

Armagh took the scenic route to get to this game. They finished tied for eight in the group with two wins, five losses and a draw and would have been eliminated if Mayo had defeated St. Ray’s in their last game. That finished a draw and thus Mayo and Armagh played off to see who would make the playoffs. That game was a draw but Armagh had a comfortable win in the replay.

Up next was Astoria Gaels in the quarterfinals, and in the wild rain and wind in Rockland that game was a draw. No extra time there as everyone scattered for the cars and a replay in Gaelic Park on the following Wednesday. On a beautiful evening it was switched to Van Cortland and Noel McPartland was outstanding in the Armagh win. Kerry was accounted for in the semifinal as Armagh’s confidence continues to grow.

This will be their 14th game. They have improved immensely in their last three and will take part in the final for the third year in a row.

The defense has settled with Paul Rooney in goal. Lee Kelly and Collie Fearan anchor the center, with Eoghan McPartland having an excellent year on the wing. Paddy Maguire has returned from injury, while upfront there are Sean Kelly, Kieran Traynor — who has been a huge part of their last two wins — and the Big Mac attack, Noel Mc-Partland. They are all match winners in their own rights.

A big physical team, Armagh have no glaring weakness and are gelling at the right time. They know what it is like to play at this level and will be set on finally reaching the senior level again.

Armagh have the look of a team that is making the right moves, and while these squads drew in their first encounter look for the Orchard boys to go one better with a four point win in what promises to be an exciting and entertaining final.

3 p.m.: SF B Semifinal St. Barnabas vs. Cork

THIS is the first semi of the Senior B competition, and although the two semis should be close fought battles and entertaining fare the competition itself left a lot to be desired. With just six teams in it, the semifinal slots were basically set as long ago as June.

Monaghan and Meath were out that far back as contenders and it was left to see just the pairings in today’s games. The KO competition in this division is up in the air at the moment with no end in sight, and we did not see these teams in Gaelic Park that much at all this year.

St. Barnabas has been tipped by many to take this crown this year, and they have not disappointed so far. A record of five games and five wins was the result in the league.

Eddie Greenan, Bryan Kelly, Pat Flynn and Andrew Donahue are mainstays in the back. Ronan Garvey is in the middle, and he again has stamped his class on the division. Sean Roche, James Keoghan Sean Carbin and Ciaran Moyles are all proven footballers at this level, and they give the Saints a balanced look.

Cork was in the final of this competition last season where they lost to Derry, and they are back with a shout despite just winning the minimum this year. That was against Meath and Monaghan.

Paddy Harrington, Enda Lally and Brian McGonigle are solid at the back. Tadgh Foley is playing fantastic football and Pat Mahoney would be worth a look as a full forward for New York. He is strong, knows the way to goal and adept at laying of to his fellow forwards.

The corresponding league fixture between these sides ended with seven players taking early showers, but it’s doubtful if the same will happen again as the stakes are a lot higher this time.

St. Barnabas look to be too settled and confident and a five-point win just may be on the cards.

4:30 p.m.: SF B Semifinal Offaly vs. Sligo

THE last game of a shortened schedule pits the other two contenders for the Senior B crown.

Sligo played their last game in the KO when they beat a shorthanded due to suspension St. Barnabas team. In the league game between these squads Sligo had a come from behind win at the wire with John O’Neill outstanding.

The Yeats boys have a solid defense with Dermot Fleming confident in goal. Paddy Rocks, Tomas Maher and James Leonard anchor the backs, with Paul Mulligan sure to have one of the centerfield slots.

Enda Henry and O’Neill will play in the center of attack, with Enda Crehan, Mike Creegan, Nester Allen and Brian McDonough the other poachers. It is a balanced bunch with no glaring weakness. The long layoff will affect both squads the same.

Offaly will look to David Baile, Basil Malone and Brian Delaney to shut down the vaunted Sligo attack. Enda Condron, Tommy Quaid and Shane Cunningham are the regulars in attack, with John Murphy and Barry Smyth also sure to be in the starting lineup in some capacity.

Colin White will be a huge loss if he cannot recover in time from the injury he received in last week’s hurling decider, and indeed the Offaly club will have no time to feel depressed as they are back in action so soon.

It was a game of two contrasting halves last time out, but if Sligo can show any sort of consistency at the start they have enough weapons to return to the B final. It will be close, with possibly just two between them.