Surf’s up for super Seans!
NOT for the first time in recent years, Sean O’Mahonys confounded the bookies with a three-point victory over the fancied Kildare champions Sarsfields in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.
There are now just ten teams left standing in the entire All Ireland club championship and with a home semi-final to come next weekend against Rhode from Offaly, who’s to say the Point Road club won’t make it to the last eight?
Momentum can be a huge factor in Gaelic football. Large waves don’t come along very often for small clubs like Sean O’Mahonys so you must make the most of it when the ‘surf is up’.
O’Mahonys began riding the crest of this particular wave during the summer of 2014 and following this latest victory, the swell shows no sign of abating.
Without being disrespectful to the O Mahonys players, the team does not contain any superstars or stand-out individuals.
The strength of the group lies in its collective parts. There is also a resilience and toughness within the side which makes them very difficult to play against and as they’ve shown so many times in the last few seasons, they know how to win tight games.
Again on Sunday after Sarsfields hit six points in a row and the game was in the melting pot, O’Mahonys showed great composure to close out the game out in the final minutes, kicking the last two scores.
Sunday week’s opposition are a serious club side. Rhode’s previous visits to this stage of the competition means they’re a dangerous and battle hardened outfit.
They’ve never won a Leinster club title but have contested four recent finals in 2006, ‘08, ‘10 and ‘14. They possess some really talented individuals like Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan although there is a doubt about Sullivan’s involvement in the semi-final because of an imminent tour of duty with the armed forces.
Winter football is almost a different sport when compared to its summer counterpart. First of all you must physically match your opponents.
Then you need to keep it real tight at the back because conceding a goal will likely cost you the game.
Eight or nine scores is a match-winning tally so an accurate free-taker is a must. And finally, you must finish strongly as winter games are decided in the closing minutes.
O’Mahonys tick all four boxes. Heavy underfoot conditions and inclement weather are a great leveller at this time of the year so they need not fear anyone.
Logic tells us that this fairytale journey must soon come to an end but I wouldn’t be at all be surprised if the men fromrom the Quay find themselvess in a another Leinster finalal before this wave finally- hits the shore.
Recently announced new Louth selector Colm Nally guided St Colmcilles to the Leinster Intermediate decider after beating Glen Ryan’s Round Towers side in Kildare. They now face Rosemount from Westmeath in the final. al. IT was also a very good weekend on the international front with wins for Ireland’s soccer and rugby teams along with Conor McGregor (pictured) creating UFC history in New York.
James McClean was again the hero as Ireland picked up a crucial three points in a World Cup Qualifier in Vienna. Right from the off, the Austrians didn’t look up for the battle and Martin O Neill’s side were full value for their 1-0 win.
In advance of the All Blacks’ eagerly awaited visit to Dublin next weekend, Joe Schmidt chose to rest many of his first-choice players as he gave debuts to eight new players in the 52-21 win over Canada at the Aviva.
After ‘poking the bear’ in Chicago, Ireland need to be ready for New Zealand’s reaction. Beating the All Blacks once was historic, but back-to-back victories over the World champions would be a real statement of intent.
And finally, McGregor broke all sorts of box-office records on his way to another UFC title in Madison Square Gardens.
Like our friends from the Quay, the Crumlin native’s star just keep rising and rising...