Sem win through to McGirr Cup final

ANOTHER year, another All-Ireland Schools final beckons for St Brendan’s College but not before they were given plenty of nervous moments in Ferbane last Saturday. Despite their Cavan opponents taking 18 minutes to score, 11 first half wides meant The Sem had to ride the crest of a choppy wave in the second period with late frees from Niall McGuillicuddy crucial in getting them over the line and into a fourth consecutive All-Ireland decider between both the Paul McGirr and Hogan Cup competitions.

While it might be easy to think Sem manager Kieran Herlihy would be happier with the result and the performance, he did see encouraging signs in the way his team came through this game.

“There would be things I would be very happy with in terms of how we won ‘dirty ball’ and how we improved on our kick-outs during the game as well as tackling ferociously. I would say it is probably one of the most satisfying performances I’ve seen from a Sem side that I have been involved in in terms of their willingness to grind it out and our decision making should hopefully improve in front of goal after today’s experience. Nothing beats a competitive game and while I know people mentioned the fact they hadn’t played since they won their competition in Ulster prior to Christmas, that only an advantage to you in the first quarter as I think today probably showed,” Herlihy said.

Dylan O’Callaghan was central to the Sem’s two goals, firstly in scoring a brilliant individual effort in the 24th minute before laying off to his Firies club-mate Darragh Donohoe nine minutes after the restart for a crucial second in keeping the Sem in control of the scoreboard. McGuillicuddy opened the game’s scoring after three minutes with a free but an eighth minute point from O’Callaghan was the only other score in the first period as St Pats worked hard to get up to the pace of the game while the Sem were wasteful in letting some decent opportunities at scores go by. The Sem were defending well it must be said, Kieran O’Donoghue keeping a tight rein on full-forward Matthew McGaharn despite a significant height differential while Liam Spillane and Evan Smith were also strong in their duties.

Jack Trainor got St Pats on the scoreboard eventually while Darryl McGurren levelled the scores up before they was little O’Donoghue could do to stop McGaharn guiding a high dangerously ball into the net in the 20th minute for a lead of 1-2 to 0-2. The Sem responded positively with an Emmet O’Shea point before O’Callaghan went on a solo run from the right hand side and jinking past the St Pats defence to goal for a half-time lead of 1-3 to 1-2.

St Pats started with the first two points of the second period to go in front but it would be the last time they led as the Sem’s first score after the restart was Donohoe’s polished finish for a 2-3 to 1-4 lead. It was not all plain sailing from there however as St Pats asked hard questions in bringing the Sem back to a slender point lead on a couple of occasions, yet the Sem found a response each time.

Emmet O’Shea missed a chance to make the final 10 minutes a bit more comfortable in the 48th minute when he fired a goal chance straight at St Pats goalkeeper Joe Kernan at 2-5 to 1-5. At the other end, Eoin Moynihan and his defenders were brave in dealing with a goal chance for St Pats as a high ball from wing-back Oisin Brady trickled dangerously across the goalmouth when broken down as the game entered injury time.

An earlier injury to O’Callaghan meant there would be at least four minutes of stoppage time and in the third of those Sem midfielder Michael Lenihan showed great composure in slotting over a promising chance with McGuillicuddy’s fourth free effectively the insurance score in going ahead by four.

St Pats lost McGurren to a black card and also corner-back Shane Halton to a red card late on as he struck out more in frustration that last Saturday was not going to be his side’s day.

With Leinster still to be completed and an All-Ireland semi-final with the Connacht champions to be played it still is uncertain as to who The Sem will face in the decider on Easter Saturday, March 31.

ST BRENDANS: Eoin Moynihan (Glenflesk); Cian O’Leary (Legion), Kieran O’Donoghue (do), Liam Spillane (Spa); Evan Smith (Legion), Cian O’Shea (Dr Crokes), Ruairi Doyle (Fossa); Michael Lenihan (Dr Crokes, 0-1), Eoghan O’Sullivan (Legion); Darragh Donohue (Firies, 1-0), Niall McGuillicuddy (Legion, 0-4f), Emmett Finnan (Glenflesk); Ryan O’Grady (Legion), Emmett O’Shea (Fossa, 0-2), Dylan Callaghan (Firies, 1-1). Subs: Liam Kelliher (Dr Crokes) for O’Grady, Killian Buckley (Fossa) for Cian O’Leary

ST. PATRICKS: Joe Kernan; Darragh McColdrick, Paul McCabe, Shane Halton; Oisin Brady (0-1), Aaron McManus (0-1), Colin Kiernan; Michael Veale (0-1), Sean Donohoe; Paddy McPhillips, Daryl McGurren (0-2, 1f), Fionntan O’Reilly (0-1); Shane Tynan, Matthew McGaharn (1-0), Jack Trainor (0-1). Subs: Chris Sambete for Shane Tynan, Daniel Rowley for Donohoe, Ife Makinde for McGurren (black card).

REFEREE: Patrick Maguire (Longford)

MAINMAN

Really a day to admire the Sem’s defence more than their forwards and Liam Spillane certainly was strong and brave when the Sem needed their defence to hold firm in the fact of strong St Pats pressure. Dylan O’Callaghan carrying on well after getting injured was noteworthy too.

KEY MOMENT

While Darragh Donohoe’s goal gave the Sem back control of the scoreboard, Michael Lenihan’s point late on was key in steadying them towards the finish line and giving them the composure to see things through to the final whistle.

TALKING POINT

Some decent character shown by the Sem to pull through. One has to remember these players are still only 15 and 16 years of age and are learning all the time, but if they can show something similar in the Final it will go a long way towards keeping the McGirr Cup in Kerry.