McAuliffe fully aware of Beaufort threat
DROMTARIFFE manager James McAulliffe is hopeful of ending the 2018 playing season on a high and follow in the footsteps of Duhallow neighbours Knocknagree to claim Munster JAFC accolades. Easier said than done, facing up to Kerry heavyweights Beaufort is a side laced with quality players.
For Dromtariffe, they are striking similarities from last season, both Knocknagree and Dromtariffe are based in the Diocese of Kerry, both incurred replay defeats to Boherbue in divisional finals yet both recovered to savour county final triumph.
“If they are omens, they are with us,” quipped McAulliffe.
“Knocknagree bounced back from their loss to Boherbue to win the county and subsequently ended Kerry’s dominance in Munster thanks to an extra time win over Dromid Pearses in Mallow,” he said.
However, the Rathmore native is under no illusions as to the massive task confronting Dromtariffe in Sunday’s showdown.
“Looking at their results alone in the Munster campaign on clocking up huge tallies, it confirms Beaufort are a quality side, that’s no surprise given their Division 1 ranking in the Kerry League.
“We’re up against it, but to date, we haven’t let ourselves down all year and everybody is committed to this final,” said McAulliffe.
Dromtariffe’s pride surfaced in the aftermath of a dramatic defeat to Boherbue in the Duhallow JAFC Final, forfeiting a five point advantage at the end of normal time to allow holders Boherbue earn a replay and good enough to claim a single point triumph in a tense replay.
“It’s been a roller coaster journey but we never let the heads drop. We had a meeting, the day after the Duhallow final defeat, the boys fully committed on going on, that’s exactly what’s happened in the subsequent rounds, we improved and moved forward in the right direction to ultimately claim county honours at the expense of Kilmacabea,” said the manager.
Dwelling on their Munster campaign, McAulliffe admits, maybe not the complete performances against Kildimo / Pallaskenry and Mount Sion yet Dromtariffe absorbed the pressure and enjoyed the better of matters territorially during key spells.
“Mount Sion gave us a good physical game, they weren’t short of quality players, that type of test is required ahead of a Munster Final.
“We got the opportunity to play six subs against Mount Sion, allowing guys training all year, the chance to play, some of the subs impressed and that gives us options,” he said.
McAulliffe assesses the task facing Dromtariffe in the provincial show-piece is difficult against a crack outfit in Beaufort.
“We’re facing into a serious challenge, playing a highly rated side, to get a good test in a semi-final is sure to be of benefit that will steer us in the right direction in preparations for the big test on Sunday,” he said.