Rathmore are well placed to take prized scalp of South Kerry

COUNTY SFC QUARTER-FINAL Rathmore v South Kerry Sunday, September 24 Fitzgerald Stadium at 3.15 Referee: Paul Hayes

WHEN the Quarter-final draw was made, this is the match that jumped out at everyone. The 2015 Champions and arguably a rising force in Rathmore meeting would create interest in any circumstances but for South Kerry they enter this with some setbacks in advance.

Their manager William Harmon will not be there on Sunday due to being contractually obliged by the LGFA to be in Croke Park for the All-Ireland Ladies Finals while there is also the setback of Killian Young being unavailable for this weekend. Throw in injuries to Denis Daly, Padraig King, Damien Kelly and the departure of Sean Cournane from the panel and they face a tough task to say the least.

Rathmore have some concerns as well but not to level of their opponents on Sunday. Mark Reen is their big injury doubt however the situation is more positive for Eoin Lawlor, Brendan O’Keeffe and Conor O’Sullivan as they appear to be approaching match fitness ahead of Sunday following recent injuries.

The East Kerry club will be looking to get the better of a third district side in their campaign in their bid to reach a third successive semi-final after defeating their native district East Kerry and Feale Rangers back in May. South Kerry have had to go through the scenic route in getting here after losing to Kerins O’Rahillys on the opening day. They have accounted for Kilcummin and Dingle in the meantime but this is a big test of their resolve against a driven outfit.

Aidan O’Mahony and Paul Murphy will give the club side their spine but it will be interesting to see if Shane Ryan features out the pitch for them after getting the call-up to Kerry Seniors on the goalkeeping front. South Kerry will need huge innings from Bryan Sheehan, Mark Griffin, Brendan O’Sullivan and Niall O’Shea in particular but they once again have to overcome the cohesiveness of a club side in trying to stay in the race for the Bishop Moynihan Cup.

It’s set up to be a cracker, we all know how South Kerry can rise to the top at this stage but with the momentum they have built up over the last few years you feel Rathmore are at their apex at the moment and look best placed to take a big scalp especially with their opponent’s difficulties in advance.

Verdict: Rathmore