Another big win for Killarney

OT even 24 hours after Dr Crokes had claimed their second All-Ireland Senior Club title in Croke Park, St Brendan’s College Killarney ensured that there would be another trip back down Jones Road for the Killarney and East Kerry GAA Community in quick succession come the first Saturday in April.

While a St Brendan’s victory was expected on Saturday in advance it was far from routine in its accomplishment.

Difficult conditions and a brave St Colman’s challenge made the defending champions work for their return to the Hogan Cup decider.

What’s becoming apparently with The Sem though in this campaign is their desire to kick the ball no matter the risks that might be involved. It might not work straight away but they appear to be in it for the long haul in terms of believing it will eventually win out for them as it has done so far. It’s not aimless kicking either, it has a target in mind and more often than not it finds the man that is to be found with it.

People have decried the state of football at the higher senior levels in recent years particularly the obsession with hand passing and retaining possession. At the lower levels a counter-revolution appears to be taking place however best illustrated arguably in the style of the Kerry Minors along with St Brendan’s in their recent successes.

Indeed both (Post-Primary and Minor level) seem to be complimenting each other in Kerry’s underage revival. In St Brendan’s case it appears to be making great leaders out of their 2016 Kerry Minor contingent in Billy Courtney, Dara Moynihan and David Shaw to name just three.

David Clifford, deservedly in most a lot of ways, took a lot of the limelight last year with his performances for both St Brendan’s and the Kerry Minors lighting up social media with seemingly every turn.

However it appeared to allow his team-mates the time to develop as players with the spotlight off them and Shaw certainly has dealt comfortably thus far with the increased attention his recent AFL trial has brought with it.

Clifford has departed for third-level but true of any team that is hungry for success there have been plenty willing to carry on from the exploits of those who went before them last year.

A sizeable contingent of this team have already tasted defeated in an All-Ireland Final in the school colours, the 2015 All-Ireland U-16½ Final, so there is a drive there to make amends at senior level by those involved two years ago in that loss. With St Brendan’s attacking exploits a lot of the focus does go to their forwards but it will be of benefit to their management that their defence were asked questions by their opponents last Saturday and that a few flashlights went off in terms of required attention before the decider.

Cian O’Callaghan’s injury has forced a bit of a change in that area but Chris O’Donoghue is proving to be a rock in the full-back line especially with young corner-backs like Lorcán McMonagle and Sean O’Leary learning about what it takes to succeed at this level.

Of course when Dr Crokes first triumphed in Croke Park back in ’92 a St Brendan’s team inspired by a certain Seamus Moynihan came along a month later in Thurles and defeated St Jarlath’s of Tuam in a Hogan Cup decider. St Brendan’s bridged the gap to their ’92 success a year sooner last year as we know.

However a repeat double 25 years later would be most welcome by those in the eastern part of the county.