Underdogs tag will suit Dromid but hard to look past favourites

SATURDAY, APRIL 20 An Ghaeltacht v Dromid Pearses Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney at 3.15 Extra-time of necessary (winner on the day)

Dromid are a side who delight in subver ting people’s expectations. They weren’t expected to win the Premier Junior Championship when they did, but when Na Gaeil stumbled at the semi-final stage they swooped in, defeated Firies in the final and claimed the cup.

Ever since Declan O’Sullivan became manager they’ve had a habit of exceeding people’s expectations – league and championship alike they’ve held their own. St Marys were expected to top Group 1, but Dromid held them to a draw, knocked them off their game and took a place in the semi-finals.

It’s for that reason that we’d advise An Ghaeltacht to thread carefully in how they approach their South Kerry cousins – both are gaeltacht clubs. Dromid will embrace the underdogs tag, it’s done them no harm whatsoever over the years.

That An Ghaeltacht will be raging hot favourites for this game won’t bother them one little bit. The pressure is going to be all on one side of the scales in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Dromid are in bonus territory, which is not to say they won’t fancy their chances, or don’t desperately want to reach the final. They a very good side too with players like Graham O’Sullivan, Dominic O’Sullivan, Chris Farley, Kealan Farley and Niall O’Shea, but they simply don’t have the depth or breath of talent that An Ghaeltacht possess.

Think of it this way: it went largely uncommented upon when PJ Mac Laimh missed the first game against Brosna. They have so much talent that it was easy almost to forget about one of the breakout stars of their 2017 triumph.

Even the absence of Tomás Ó Sé through injury hasn’t affected them too badly – they would obviously be much stronger with him in the fold than not – with his brother Óigí stepping up to the plate (in the difficult opener against Brosna especially).

With Seán M Ó Conchúir and Dara Ó Sé in fine form too, firepower shouldn’t be an issue for the West Kerry men. Nor, we suspect should possession be, not with Éanna Ó Conchúir – who could also be pushed to fullforward – and Roibeard Ó Sé on hand.

A half-back line that potentially contains both Pádraig Ó Sé and Brian Ó Beaglaoich will take watching by Dromid too – both are potential support runners and strikers from deep. If An Ghaeltacht get a head of steam up they’ll be very hard to beat here.

The thing to remember about An Ghaeltacht, despite having come back down to intermediate from senior last year, is that they’re still a developing side. They’re still a side with a lot of young players, guys like the aforementioned Óigí Ó Sé, guys like Ruairí Ó Beaglaoich (star of the Corn Uí Mhuirí final) and Peter Paul Sauerland.

As good as they are and have been, they’ve got the potential to get much better, but with a developing side comes the potential for inconsistency. We don’t think that’ll be an issue here, however. They’ve got the quality to see off Dromid and return to the final for the second time in three years.

Verdict: An Ghaeltacht