Fitzmaurice questions semi-final venue
HOGAN CUP SEMI-FINAL
Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne vs. St Ronans College] (Armagh)
Wednesday, March 28 Abbotstown, Dublin time TBC
A FIFTH tilt at a Hogan Cup in seven years for Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne sees them bid to reach their third decider in five stagings as their manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice has to focus on Ulster opposition for the second time in four days at a personal level come next Wednesday in Abbotstown.
The staging of the game at the GAA’s multi-pitch facility on the grounds of the National Sports Campus is a bone of contention for Fitzmaurice given the different geographic distances both have to travel.
“It’s certainly not halfway between both sides like the other semi-final between a Sligo and Kildare school being played in Roscommon is. We have a five hour journey while Lurgan is only 90 minutes from Abbotstown with the road network in that part of the country.
“I found it strange personally that it was fixed at Abbotstown before any of the competing sides were known as you would feel that Portlaoise or another venue in the Midlands would be of a similar distance to both.
“I have no issue with it as a facility though as we have used it with Kerry for warming up for games when we are up that part of the country,” the Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne manager said of the fixing of the game.
An overnight is being considered by the school with the distance involved and, while the playing of the game in the middle of the week presents its own challenges as much as the venue, Fitzmaurice does feel that the fact it is on over the Easter holidays lessens the negatives somewhat on that front (game being midweek).
With the tradition of the MacRory Cup Final in Ulster being played around the St Patricks weekend as well as being televised it does give the team they are playing against in a Hogan Cup semi-final an advantage in having some background knowledge of what they are likely to face, but Fitzmaurice says that the streaming of the Corn Uí Mhuirí Final online now makes it work the other way as well.
“I imagine any team that is serious about trying to succeed will have taken note of our game with The Green being broadcasted online as well so I am sure they are working off that in much the same way we were working off the TV and Máirtín [Ó Frathaille, selector] travelling up to Armagh [venue for final] as well,” Fitzmaurice said.
While Pobalscoil are barely 10 years in existence themselves, St Ronans are only in their fourth year since foundation and Fitzmaurice does see some parallels between the journeys both Schools have taken.
“I know from our own football success and the success our girls have had in basketball it does go a long way at the start towards giving you an identity and an aspiration for others to want to come to the school then when they reach post-primary level.
“While we have had the chance to see St Ronans in competitive action a part of me would prefer to be heading into this in their situation with having massive momentum from a win like Monday’s and be playing your All-Ireland semi-final a week and a half later,” he said.
St Ronans defeated last year’s defending champions St Marys Magherafelt in Monday’s lunchtime contest, scoring an early goal before withholding some late Magherafelt pressure in hanging on for a historic success.
Pobalscoil are boosted by the return of Criostóir Ó Catháin for selection after a collar bone injury ruled him out of the Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign but nearly a year on from their incredible Paul McGirr Cup Final success over another Ulster side in St Pats Maghera, Fitzmaurice agrees it has been a remarkable journey in the space of twelve months.
“The 2014 team had that sense of expectancy about them going on to compete for the Hogan Cup with what they won beforehand with the various age groups.
“This team had no real track record of success until the Frewen Cup last year and the way it has spurred itself on from there in the space of a year is quite incredible,” Fitzmaurice said.
He isn’t one to dwell too much on significance though in the middle of a campaign as another significant opportunity approaches now for the West Kerry School.
“Beating both The Sem and The Green to win a Corn Ui Mhuirí is noteworthy when you consider the tradition in both Schools and how we are competing with them despite our more limited resources.
“However we are not reflecting on it at the moment with what’s in front of us. Bottom line is we need to improve each time if we are to go further and that speaks volumes when it comes to this Hogan Cup semi-final now.”
Given the tragic circumstances the Corn Uí Mhuirí decider was played under its probably understandable if performances were not what was expected at this stage, but maybe the desire to prove themselves again along with the drive of Gearóid Ó Leidhinn, Cillian Ó Fáilbhe, Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich and Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh can send Pobalscoil into what would be another marquee underage Final for both School and county.
Verdict: Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne