The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Sem students ready for Hogan Cup final test
DARA MOYNIHAN
HE describes it as an amazing experience in being a captain of a team with players that he normally wouldn’t be playing with but after replicating his first cousin Micheál Burns of Dr Crokes in winning an All-Ireland Minor Final Man-of-the-Match award last September, Dara Moynihan will hope to follow a Spa club-mate of his in Liam Kearney (2014 Kerry Minor captain) in accepting a major underage trophy on the steps of the Hogan Stand this Saturday.
He isn’t thinking too far ahead however as he reflects on a campaign that has seen questions asked of the Killarney side with the right answers given so far.
“The O’Sullivan Cup was strange because even though we won it for the fourth yearin-a-row for the school it felt more like a loss afterwards with the way we had played. We improved for the Corn Uí Mhuirí and though it was hard to wait and see who we would be playing in the Final between Tralee and Chriost Rí and the replays between them we just stayed calm and focussed on ourselves. Tralee were definitely a better team because of those games with Chriost Rí but it probably took too much out of them the longer the game went on,” the Sem captain said.
Before the semi-final with St Colman’s of Claremorris, Moynihan was fulsome in his praise of the Dr Crokes players for deciding not to go up and see their club in action in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.
“It’s not often that something like it arises but it showed the commitment of the Crokes lads to us not to go up there. They did Trojan work up in Ennis to beat St Colman’s as well and it’s nice they are getting their own day out in Croke Park now with the game on Saturday.”
MARK O’SHEA
IT can’t have been easy not to be there in Croke Park watching his Uncle Pat patrol the side lines and his first cousins Gavin and Bryan celebrating afterwards in winning the Andy Merrigan Cup but Mark O’Shea said the Dr Crokes players in the S aem ranks had their own private celebration of the club’s success on St Patrick’s Day.
“We all watched the game together on TV and while we celebrated a bit afterwards we weren’t long calming down and starting to focus on the Colman’s game the following day. It was nice though when we met the players the following night and how much they were encouraging us and wishing us well knowing that we would be going up to Croke Park with the school,” he said.
With so much expected of the Sem this year because of previous success and players at their disposal, O’Shea feels that the management have done well in guiding the team to the brink of another major success.
“We’re being encouraged to take each game one at a time and not to panic if things aren’t going our way and stick to the gameplan. That’s what we did against St Colman’s and it came off right for us in the end.”
NIALL DONOHOE
HE admitted to a few nerves before last year’s Final but Niall Donohoe also admits he is a lot more excited about the prospect of playing in Croke Park again this Saturday. The Firies defender agrees it’s nice to be able to tell those who are making their debut down Jones Road what to expect in advance.
“Sleep was hard to get last year but I would say to anyone a good walk around the pitch beforehand is helpful for your nerves,” he said of the experience.
Having been on the team that lost the Paul McGirr Cup Final to another Wexford School in Good Counsel of New Ross, Donohoe says The Sem won’t be taking anything for granted in returning to Croke Park to face St Peters.
“I remember how dejected we all were two years ago coming home from that game in Clonmel. No one was speaking to each other and it’s something you never want to experience again,” Donohoe said.
When asked what he feels has brought the school back to this point, Donohoe feels fitness is a big factor.
“Even if we aren’t going well our fitness seems to be carrying us through. Arthur (Fitzgerald) asks us to give an extra 5% each time we play and it’s something we’re managing to achieve thankfully.”