By Eugene Kyne

1:30 p.m.:

SF A KO Derry vs. Leitrim

A GOOD way to start the afternoon, with two squads with aspirations for titles this year. Leitrim’s strength is their impressive home base that has the Mitchell brothers, Matt, James, and Kevin from Clara, Co. Offaly, Robbie Moran, Ken O’Connor who is their vocal leader, Aiden Power and of course Dan Doona, last season’s player of the year. Their only weakness thus far is a goalie, but that might not be a factor.

Derry have no problem in that department as they added Chris Green, the New York keeper, to their panel at transfer night. They will call on Kevin Lilly, Rory O’Neill, Darren Petit and Conor Downey to combat the Leitrim strengths.

It promises to be a cracker. Leitrim look too strong on paper and should be able to pull of the win with five points to spare.

3 p.m.: SF A KO Cavan vs. Kerry

CAVAN were very impressive in the second half against Sligo last week and they will look to continue their good play in this battle against the reigning senior knockout and regular season champions Kerry. Their five forwards scored last week with Sean Collins and Mike “Turla” Keaveney very impressive in their new colors. Dennis McCarthy and Justin O’Halloran were strong at the back, and the Cavan team is well balanced across the board.

Kerry has suffered some heavy losses this winter, with Dan Doona the biggest along side Pa Murphy, who returned to Ireland. Dermot Foley is also absent at the moment. They still have players of the caliber of Derek Riney, Anthony Glackin, Damien Breen and Shane Langan, and they will not be prepared to give up any silverware this early in the season.

Look for Kerry to sneak by with a pair of points to spare.

The John Joe Cassidy Memorial 7 a side tournament was rained off on April 15 when New York was hit with a Nor’easter. The Cavan club has organized this tournament since the early 1990s, and it will be rescheduled for later in the season.

There will be a new Cup up for grabs this year, and certainly time deserves to be found to fit in what is always a competitive day of football.

In other news, the Brooklyn Shamrocks are holding their 30th annual dinner dance on Friday, May 4 at the Bay Ridge Manor in Brooklyn.

Guest of honor will be one of the club’s all time greatest members and characters, the man from Clonakilty in West Cork, Seamus O’Flynn. Seamus was known as the lord mayor of Bay Ridge, such was his popularity.

Another great club member, Tony Spollen from Offaly, will receive the club person of the year award. He conducts the club $100 raffle every year which has become better known as the Tony Spollen Mega Millions for the strict manner in which he oversees it.

Player of the year is Pat Ashe from Meath, and supporter of the year is Julio, who never kicked a ball but goes to all the games.

Call 917-731-8638.