Templenoe can prevail as An Ghaeltacht plot upset
COUNTY IFC SEMI-FINAL
FOLLOWING pretty good County League campaigns by both sides, Templenoe contending for a place in the County League Final while An Ghaeltacht earned promotion to Division One for the first time since 2011, both sides will do battle for a place in the Intermediate decider with different paths travelled by both clubs in recent years. Indeed 2011 marks a pretty significant year for both teams. It was the year that the Kenmare District side rose out of Division Five of the County League and began their rise up the Kerry football ladder leading to last February’s All-Ireland Junior Club title triumph.
For the West Kerry side however it marked not only the last time they reached this stage of the competition (losing to eventual All-Ireland winners Milltown/Castlemaine) but also relegation from the top flight as they slipped down into Division Three for two years in 2014 and 2015 before two successive promotions back to Division One.
If anyone thought that Templenoe would rest on their laurels in the top flight after their success in Croke Park they were sorely mistaken and their manager Mike Crowley said their continued success is down to the ambition of the players.
“You are conscious after a success like we had in Croke Park maybe not to push the players on a bit too much more than you should when it comes to the following campaign. However the commitment is still there from the players and one of the things that was said in the aftermath of the All-Ireland was that it was 1988 when the club last got to an Intermediate Final so that became a goal for the players to try and achieve. An Ghaeltacht have a serious team and have had a great year. We lost to them in an U-21 match a few years ago with the majority of both sides in the senior ranks now so we know what to expect on Sunday,” the Templenoe boss said.
Victories over Glenflesk and St Michaels/Foilmore have brought the All-Ireland Junior Champions to this point while An Ghaeltacht saw off Laune Rangers and former three time All-Ireland Club Champions Ardfert to make it here. An Gaeltacht manager Paul Quinn says the team is entering on a high after securing their place back in Division One of the County League.
“I would mark it as progression with a capital P (promotion). We were happy that we got to the Final of the Gaeltacht tournament in Ballyvourney as well despite losing to Naomh Chonaill from Donegal. The County League worked out very well for us this year in terms of the amount of games we had during the summer. We had a disappointing loss to Listry at home but having a game the following week against St Michael/ Foilmore allowed us the chance to get that performance of the way straight away whereas other years you might be waiting a full two months for the next game. I think Templenoe are probably blessed with the right age group of players to make the progress they have in previous years, much like we did as a club 20 years ago. I feel it’s a 50/50 game on Sunday though because our strength is our defence while their strength is their attack,” Quinn believes. Both sides have injuries ahead of Sunday, Templenoe missing Brian Crowley, Cian Hallissey and Stephen O’Sullivan from the side that triumphed in GAA HQ although John Rice has returned from America for them. An Ghaeltacht will be without Cian Ó Murchú, Roibeard Ó Se, PJ Mac Laimh and Sean Ó Gairbhi through injury although the return of Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh and Dara Ó Sé is a boost having not featured in the quarter-final win over Ardfert. A lot will hinge on how Marc Ó Sé, Brian Ó Beaglaoich ( and Cathal Ó Lúing cope with a forward line containing Killian Spillane, Teddy Doyle and Pat Spillane Jnr with Tadhg Morley and Gavin Crowley likely to be keeping tabs on the movement of Eanna Ó and Sean M Ó Conchúir in An Ghaeltacht’s forward line.
Form would favour a Templenoe win especially after their Division One exploits but An Ghaeltacht will be primed for an upset in what could be a very interesting affair.