The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Pobalscoil can find what they need
CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ FINAL REPLAY PS Corcha Dhuibhne v St Brendans College
Saturday, March 2 Austin Stack Park, 2pm AS both schools return this week from the mid-term break the expected parading of the Corn Uí Mhuirí Cup around the winning school is on hold until next Monday.
Last Saturday arguably turned out maybe the way some felt it would but maybe not in the way others might have wanted it to. In hindsight, maybe a lot of the expectations people have of underage games in general come from the achievements of those who have gone before but maybe not necessarily those who are involved at the present time.
A best of both schools from those who have passed through St Brendans and Pobalscoil this decade would be a great fantasy if it was ever played out! However, the reality is we can only judge a given campaign on those participating in it.
What was evident last Saturday was that neither really wanted to lose but arguably it came at the expense of the ambition normally needed to win. You must credit Pobalscoil for a defensive masterclass, the Sem’s hallmark this decade is forwards capable of ripping teams apart with the right supply but it never came as Paul O’Shea had to wait until the second-half to have any real input on proceedings with Emmet O’Shea much more effective in his shooting boots in the second period as well.
Seamus Ó Loingsigh was brave for Pobalscoil when he needed to be again as Sean Óg Ó Moráin provided a good link between defence and attack but really Cathal Ó Beaglaoich was the star of the show for Corcha Dhuibhne in how he roamed around the pitch at will.
They will be disappointed Cillian Ó Failbhe didn’t have as big an input in an attacking sense as they would have liked, but both himself and Paul O’Shea were well marshalled respectively in proceedings.
The main issue for the Sem will be the chances they left after them, six wides in the first period, which even accounting for the breeze was poor considering how close they were to goal in missing them.
Patrick D’Arcy was another to improve in the second-half for the Sem as while Pobalscoil’s defence might have been the better in the main, Mark Cooper was very diligent for the Sem in that department throughout.
From a psychological point of view, Pobalscoil will be happy to have come through the final 20 minutes in Fitzgerald Stadium unharmed. It looked like it would be another tricky period for them in Killarney, like their O’Sullivan Cup Final and Corn Ui Mhuirí semi-final experiences at the venue when the Sem’s goal put them behind for the first time around that stage of proceedings.
Éamonn Fitzmaurice has spoken of a spirit in the group from their Paul McGirr (Under 16½ All-Ireland) victory two years ago and it was in evidence in how they dug in and made sure they would let their hard work in the first period go undone.
Now that we know how little there really is between both sides, the question now must be what will it take to separate them in Tralee this Saturday? Austin Stack Park will create a new dynamic to the fare with the crowd likely to be more of a factor in being closer in to the players.
Whoever copes with that the best might find themselves on the way to victory as another factor might well be when the sides must go beyond the first fifteen during the replay.
Pobalscoil made only one substitution last Saturday in bringing Criostóir Ó Catháin on at half-time, while the Sem made the full five, one of which, Darragh Donohoe, managed to force the save leading to Emmet O’Shea’s goal.
A bigger panel is no guarantee to success, but if it is similarly tight then who comes off the bench might be able to swing it and the Sem will hope they can introduce someone to make the decisive impact.
Whether or not a further week is of any benefit to Ruairí Doyle in bringing him back into contention from a hamstring injury remains to be seen, but although putting Deividas Uosis back into goal has worked for Pobalscoil, maybe it’s just denying them an extra option they could use up front as the 2017 Kerry Minor goalkeeper is able to get scores when played out the field.
Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh and Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich are Pobalscoil’s biggest and proven threats but you feel they could just do with that one further threat to go with the hard work in the build-up their other forwards do for their scores.
Both sides midfield will probably want to be that bit more dominant in that department in the replay. Obviously if it is being bypassed for kick-outs then the dynamic there changes in the game but the chance at victory is definitely there for either side if they can get a decisive hold of it in the replay.
The one thing neutrals will want to see in the main is a more open affair with a bit more ambition and confidence in either side’s ability to go forward for scores. That isn’t always the participating teams desire though with the emphasis on tactics and sticking to systems in the present game. However, it will take something magical on the offensive front from either side to win it this Saturday you feel.
In Hogan Cup terms, with Leinster only at the semi-final stage in their competition, the replay is timely in breaking the wait to March 23 for the victor. In calling a winner again, a lot might depend on Pobalscoil’s ability to thwart the Sem’s forwards once more.
If they manage it again and pick off a few more scores at the other end it might be enough to retain the title for the school. However, the potential for extra-time being needed might stretch them that bit too far, especially if the tempo of proceedings increases like will be expected.
You feel both schools have justified themselves in how they performed last Saturday and now is the time to cut loose and go for it in deciding how the Corn Uí Mhuirí ends after a successful decade for the Kingdom in it.
A bigger panel is no guarantee to success, but if it is similarly tight then who comes off the bench might swing it