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Fermoy v St Michaels

JUST two years after an ill-fated visit to the Premier Intermediate Football Final Fermoy are back to the show-piece game again looking to secure what would be a well-deserved and highly sought after place in the top flight of Cork football.

In their way, a St Michaels side that will be still hurting after falling at the last hurdle to Mallow in 2017. This game on Sunday afternoon in Páirc Uí Chaoimh has all the pre-game signs of cracker as both sides come into the game with plenty to smile about and plenty to prove as both their recent final losses were down to less than perfect performances.

Fermoy could genuinely point to the fact that when they reached the final game the last time (2016) they were fighting on two fronts as the hurlers were also in their premier final and this ultimately seemed to take a toll on both sides as the club came up short in both promotion games.

This time round it is only the footballers on show so focus has been firmly on the big ball for the past number of weeks – something that should benefit the north Cork side heading to headquarters.

Tomás Clancy is obviously the big name for Fermoy as the county star tries yet again to get his club side to the promised land but in truth this Fermoy side is more about balance than any one player, something manager Mick Hennessey told me after Tuesday night’s training session.

“We have an awful lot of experience coming into this game on Sunday. Some of these lads have been in five county finals in five years.

“Names like Paudi de Roiste, Paudi Clancy and Darragh Carroll at centre back will all be big players for us along with Tomás of course.

“We have a great strength in depth with a great mix of young and older more experienced players.

“All the lads are super professional in their attitude at training, during games and off the pitch as well. They have responded to everything we have asked them to do.”

Hennessey is enjoying his first year at the helm and while harping back to the past is not usually seen as a positive the manager acknowledged that his men feel they have something to prove after losing the final in