I’m changing my mind and fancy the Shels in replay

NEXT SUNDAY we have two potentially top-class football games taking place in Innovate Wexford Park, which should make for an entertaining afternoon. In the first game Bunclody take on Kilanerin in the Amber Springs/ Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate final.

Kilanerin are hoping to return to the Senior ranks quite rapidly after being relegated in 2015, while Bunclody have been back in the Intermediate ranks since the start of the 2009 season.

Bunclody had a battle against Ferns in the semi-final which included a character-building comeback from seven points down. They are an impressive team playing attractive football and containing a strong half-back line of Peadair Cowman, John Atkinson and Colm Farrell.

Seán Kenny and Aidan Nolan provide strength and energy in midfield, along with a few scores, while Eoin Kelly, Peter Atkinson and David Reck are dangerous forwards.

Kilanerin had a facile yet clinical win over St. Mary’s (Rosslare) in their semi-final.

They have a mixture of youth and experience and this year have been strengthened by the merger with Tara Rocks.

Their defence has been disciplined and organised all year with Tom Hughes marshalling his backs and using all his experience.

Their forwards can get scores from all angles, with Bobby and Peter Hughes, Dean O’Toole and of course the great Matty Forde who is as dangerous as ever.

Despite injury and of course father time catching up, Matty is still knocking them over with consummate style and ease.

I think Kilanerin have looked like champions all year but you can never underestimate any Bunclody team that reaches a final.

I just think the forward power of Kilanerin is as good if not better than most Senior clubs in the county and expect them to return to the top table on Sunday.

The second game is a Senior replay between St. Martin’s and Shelmaliers.

The reaction of the St. Martin’s mentors at the final whistle the last day said it all, as this was a nightmare result given the successful season the club is having.

Any club would give their right arm to have the run they are on at the moment, with under-age and adult teams sweeping the boards in both codes; and that includes the ladies as well as the men.

In the drawn game St. Martin’s were disappointed with their performance but I think this does an injustice to the Shelmaliers team. They were sharper and got their tactics right on the day.

They outplayed their opponents for the majority of the game and looked to be on their way to the final.

Whether it was fatigue or nerves, they sat back a bit in the final quarter as St. Martin’s built up momentum and almost pipped them at the end.

Shelmaliers will have gained confidence from their performance the last day and I think they will improve as a result.

Their established players like Brian Malone, Eoin Nolan and Simon Donohoe were outstanding in the drawn game and will inspire their team-mates to have belief.

Games of this intensity take a big mental and physical toll on players, and weeks in between games are more about recovery than practising skills or tactics.

The St. Martin’s mentors have been used to this scenario for the last couple of years so will be well aware what is best for the players at this stage.

The last day I picked the Martin’s to win, but this time unusually I am going to change.

Shelmaliers have had no distractions and had two weeks to freshen up and sharpen up.

I think they might just upset the odds in another tight game, so they get my vote.