A BATCH of action packed games in the U21 Football Championship and four quarter final games is sure to generate plenty of enthusiasm.

The fare opens on Friday night with two games with Millsteet hosting Lyre for what looks a pretty close affair.

Millstreet shaded matters over Kanturk in the opening round where for long stages, a sharper Millstreet looked the more complete side, their passing, teamwork and workrate commendable.

Their dominance was founded on the positive play of Barry O'Reilly, John Buckley, Mark Ellis, Michael Vaughan and Eric Hickey. Kanturk ate into the deficit and it resulted in a tense and exciting finale where Millstreet held their nerve.

A second half scoring spree ensured a decisive win for Lyre at the expense of Kilbrin in the opening round. Growing in confidence after the break, a clinical streak put a new step into Lyre's game and to an attack that carried greater scoring power. Lyre had recovered from a sluggish opening spell, a solid foundation in defence provided by Colman Mannix, Tony McGeough and Brendan Withers spurred on their colleagues with David McAulliffe and Rory O'Connor effective in attack.

Though Withers may be an injury casuality, Lyre will not be daunted by the task on hand.

Also on Friday night, Kiskeam come up against Knocknagree in Kiskeam. A surge after the interval powered Kiskeam to victory over Dromtariffe in a dramatic first round contest.

The clash proved to be real humdinger, the issue remaining in the balance throughout the hour. Kiskeam's game improved upon with Daniel Fitzgerald, Robert Carroll, Mike and Gene Casey actively involved.

For their part, Knocknageee secured a single point win over a wasteful Cullen in their opening assignment.

The game swung on opportunist goal from Matthew Daly found the target. By the end of the hour, Knocknagree's game offered plenty of character and their play was embellished by neatly taken scores and fine individual performances by Shane O'Donoughue, Patrick Dennehy, Fintan O'Connor and the Daly brothers.

Knocknagree will demand another solid all round effort to thwart Kiskeam's efforts.

Holders Newmarket square up to Dromtariffe in Kanturk on Saturday. Newmarket took a hard earned victory over Boherbue from their opening assignment.

As it transpired, the reigning holders Newmarket were given a real test. With the sides on level terms, six times during the course of the hour, Newmarket timed their run to perfection and the consistent efforts of Paul Cashman, Conor Cronin, Robert Stack and John Lane proved key to the outcome.

Dromtariffe recovered from a first round setback and a loss by Kiskeam to enjoy a good win over Kilbrin in the quarter final. Key marksman Johnny O'Sullivan led the way with an impressive 0-11 tally, well supported by the input of Shane Murphy, Pete McCabe, Sean Galvin, Cormac Galvin and Eoin Dennehy. Only a concerted effort will suffice for Dromtariffe in their efforts to halt a Newmarket side seeking a fourth successive outright title.

The concluding quarter final goes ahead on St Patrick's Day, Kanturk paired against Boherbue at Cullen. Its a pairing where both enter the fray after first round reversals. Kanturk had faltered to Millstreet yet they possessed the firepower and physique to overcome Cullen.

Goals from Shane Hehir and Benjy Sheehy put Kanturk on their way where Kevin Smith, Michael Bowman, Cian McCarthy and Denis O'Connor held prominence as did the grafting play of Lorcan O'Neill and Lorcán McLoughlin.

Boherbue relented to Newmarket in round one where the key contributions of Denis O'Connor, J P Murphy, John Corkery, Jerry O'Connor and Denis McCarthy kept the issue wide open until the full time whistle.

Though defeated, Boherbue earned a reprieve on securing a bye to the last eight. However from now on, it's a winner take all situation in the four games thus ensuring a competitive edge to proceedings.

- John Tarrant's