Pobalscoil still fancied to claim Munster crown

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ FINAL Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne v Tralee CBS Saturday, March 10 Fitzgerald Stadium, 1pm

AFTER the sadness of Aodhan Ó Conchúir’s death comes a return to the football pitch this Saturday for both Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne and Tralee CBS in the reconvened Corn Uí Mhuirí decider.

It was the right decision in the circumstances to call the game off the Friday evening beforehand as the severity of the situation became apparent to all concerned. How people close to the situation are dealing with the unfolding of events is something few of us can relate to.

Perhaps the biggest tribute that could be paid to Aodhan’s memory is for both teams to go out on Saturday and play the game in the right spirit in trying to become provincial Champions.

That it takes place (Fitzgerald Stadium) across the road from the home club of Amy O’Connor (Dr Crokes) who also passed away the same weekend as Aodhan links both losses in a poignant way.

On matters related directly to the match itself what effect the recent weather has had on both teams with the re-fixture will be interested to see played out.

The presence of all-weather pitches now negates that difficulty, but actually physically getting to such venues for training might have been the biggest difficulty both encountered this past weekend.

The re-fixture falls on another week of inter-county action for Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice, but it will be first again as it was due to be before the Galway encounter for him in advance of the trip to GAA Headquarters for the Dublin re-fixture on Sunday.

It’s probably inappropriate to guess who the delay favours more in determining a winner now, but we will still stick with Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne being the ones paying attention to St Patrick Day’s MacRory Cup Final in Ulster in learning who the winner on Saturday will be playing in the Hogan Cup semi-final on March 28.

Verdict: Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne