City slickers looking for a ninth title

Diarmuid Sheehan takes a closer look at Duhallow’s opponents on Sunday, St Finbarrs - the city club that has 25 County SHC titles and 8 County SFC titles

THIS Sunday St Finbarr’s will go in search of their ninth senior football title when they face up to divisional side Duhallow at Pairc Uí Chaoimh in the top Cork county football game of the year.

The city side will likely start this fixture as favourites with all the bookies’ after impressing throughout the season with a host of good wins that showed the full array of the Togher club’s talents while always seemingly keeping something in reserve.

Last year’s beaten finalists started their campaign this time round with a five-point win over Carrigaline before seeing off Mallow by two goals in Round 3.

The victory over the north Cork side gave some indication of what this side are capable as they opened up on the reigning premier champions who came into this game with plenty to offer. The Barr’s played some sensational football that day that marked them down as the side to beat even though there were many other contenders still in the hunt.

A quarter-final win over Douglas was next up and when the men in blue saw off Carbery Rangers by three points the show-piece game beckoned.

Ian Maguire is obviously the main man on the team sheet as the county star has shown all season that his surging runs and eye for a score are a main threat for last year’s runner-up.

Stephen Sherlock is another that will have a huge say in what happens this weekend as the St Finbarr’s talisman looks to continue a very good run of form. 11 points in the semi-final goes a long way to show exactly what Sherlock brings to the table and what Duhallow are going to need to deal with this Sunday.

John O’Rourke is another that will bring a threat to the Duhallow back six with Colin Lyons and Eoghan McGreevey also bringing plenty to the St Finbarrs party.

Maguire surging through the middle will be another factor for Duhallow to deal with however for the neutrals attending the battle between the big Cork star and inter-county teammate Aidan Walsh could be key.

Former Cork star Michael Shields, along with Eoghan Finn, will also play a role with the former shining throughout this season in the twilight of his career.

St Finbarr’s have talent all over the pitch but they also have desire, belief and a gut wrenching pain to quieten that comes from narrowly losing the final last season after drawing the first edition.

Duhallow will have to be really on it right from the first whistle this Sunday if they are to see off a St Finbarr’s side that will feel this is their time to take the top prize in Cork club football.

While St Finbarr’s are most people’s favourites to win the 2018 title they will need to do something they haven’t done all season and that is to play for 60+ minutes if they are to achieve that goal.

St Finbarr’s have already shown they have all the attributes to win this game but those will only bring the city side to the winning post - but to take the final steps to glory will depend whether they can make sure all those attributes are utilized against a side that definitely have what it takes to scupper the St Finbarr’s victory parade.