Anne’s need to stay in game
In-form Martin’s attack must be curbed in early stages
THE BEAUTY of sport for me is that it can transport your mind away from the pressures and stresses of everyday life and give great satisfaction and enjoyment to the many who partake both on and off the field.
As we approach season’s end in the domestic G.A.A. world, there have been many ups and downs, disagreements and arguments, but more than any other year I have appreciated how important and how much of a support mechanism the G.A.A. family can be.
Of course, there are failings and issues with our organisation, but in the main it provides an incredible outlet and service to our community, and perspective should always be applied when judging it.
My season of involvement ended with two final losses in the last week to a magnificent Gorey Minor football team, and then on Sunday at the death to a never-say-die group of men from Rosslare.
In sport there are few places more sobering than a losing county final dressing-room where words really mean nothing, but all you can do is dust yourself off and learn your lessons for next year’s battles.
Well done to both the north and south county men on their wonderful achievements, and for me to win a championship with your parish is the ultimate honour.
Innovate Wexford Park was my first port of call at the weekend to witness Bunclody put in a great performance to qualify for a joust with Cloughbawn in next Sunday’s Intermediate final.
Tommy Roche’s men would be well advised not to take anything for granted as the Bunclody men were full value for their victory.
They are very strong up the middle, with Colm Farrell and Aidan Nolan cementing a strong defence, and with Peter Atkinson and the radar-like Billy Kelly further up the field, can bring a strong challenge to Sunday’s decider.
Cloughbawn will be forewarned from last year however, and with Connal Flood, Harry Kehoe, Bob Whitty and the under-rated Alan Carton in their attack, they carry a serious threat.
Injury doubts to Kehoe and Barry Carton could even things up a bit, but I still go for the Clonroche men to return after a twoyear absence.
St. Martin’s have surprised few in qualifying for the Senior final, and really the story of the year has been the progress of the men from Rathangan.
Their early-season form gave no indication of what was to come, but their dismissal of the Shels and the Rapps will have served notice to Tomás Codd’s men that they won’t be going into town just for the drive on Sunday.
They possess two of the best stickmen in the country in Dee O’Keeffe and Liam Og, and these two men allied to Aidan Rochford form the engine room of the men in blue.
They play a forceful pressure game and their priority will be to stay well in contention for the first 20 minutes or so, as nobody appreciates more than they do the threat of an in-form Piercestown attack.
It will be interesting to see if master tactician Joe Kearns goes with a sweeper strategy in the early part, but with Dee O’Keeffe’s incredible battery, he has a player capable of doing this but also breaking forward when the situation arises.
The problem with employing an extra defender against the Martin’s is that Willie Devereux is very capable of dominating a game in that role at the opposite end.
The ageless Red Barry, Mark Furlong and Jonathan Fogarty provide incredible workrate up front, and this will be vital in preventing quality ball to the maroon forwards.
The loss of Paudie Kelly and Rory O’Connor will be immeasurable, but the Martin’s have a better ability and strength in depth to compensate than any other club in the county.
Joe Coleman was outstanding in the semi, and with Ciarán Lyng and Jack O’Connor in an extremely talented forward division, they will be hard to curtail.
If they had taken all their chances, Ferns would have been in more serious trouble after 20 minutes, and I go back to my original point that this opening period will be critical to the Anne’s men’s chances.
Neck on the block, and I think the cup will be heading Piercestown way, but knowing the men in blue it will be an almighty battle. Here’s hoping for a great game and good luck to all.