Final repeat should be another cracker

SOUTH KERRY SFC FINAL

St. Marys v Piarsaigh an Dromoda Sunday December 22 Portmagee, 2pm

THIS Sunday’s South Kerry Final sees reigning champions St Marys and Piarsaigh an Dromoda face off for the third year in-a-row. St Marys prevailed by just a single point in 2017 on a 0-13 to 1-9 scoreline, but had 21 points to spare over their rivals last year.

St Marys are the unquestioned kingpins of South Kerry with as many titles as Kerry has senior All Irelands. The reign has looked especially secure in recent years – a win here would make it six in-a-row and set a new record.

They got past Waterville in the quarter-final after a second half scoring blitz to win comfortable, but only had a single point to spare in a titanic semi-final with Valentia Young Islanders. They would be favourites to create history next Sunday, but St Marys’ manager Kieran McCarthy acknowledges that the record brings a burden of its own.

“It is a bit of extra pressure on lads, of course it does. No matter what, they are aware of it in the background, but we wouldn’t be mentioning it. In a way, we haven’t really been able to get together for games since the Intermediate championship.

“We have been training away all along, but nothing compares to having competitive games for players. All our focus is on keeping them away from the pressure and keeping them focussed and fit. It’s hard going for players as it is – we book a pitch in Tralee for training on Wednesday nights because we have lads in Limerick and Tralee.

“Six or seven of them are doing exams at the moment, it’s tough. I know it’s the same for Dromid and for a lot of other clubs as well.”

Kieran is under no illusions about Sunday’s task.

“We had a very hard semi-final. With the weather, especially the wind, it was tough to play good football. Fair play to Valentia, I have to compliment them. Thankfully, we don’t have any injuries at the moment, just small niggles.

“Dromid are a great team, no doubt about it. We have met them twice in the Intermediate Championship and twice in the South Kerry championship in recent years, so the two teams know each long enough by now. It’ll be a hard game in Portmagee. Wind and rain always level the playing field. In the end, we know that it will come down to a dogfight.”

Piarsaigh na Dromoda have only one the Jack Murphy Cup once, back in 2004. Star of the show back then was a footballing prodigy named Declan O’Sullivan – next Sunday he patrols the sidelines. Dromid have already knocked hard on the door twice in the past two years, this time they will be eager to break it down.

They have the kind of quality that can do it, too. They comfortably swept St Michaels / Foilmore aside in a 0-11 to 1-3 victory in the quarter-final. The semi-final was a tough and highly entertaining encounter that ended up in a hardfought and highly entertaining 1-8 to 0-8 win for Dromid, but it came at a price.

Club Chairman Denis Shine O’Sullivan, himself a panellist and one of Dromid’s greatest ever players, explains.

“Chris and Kealan Farley both came off with injuries. Kealan got a knock on the shoulder and he might be able to play, but Chris came off with a hamstring and I’d say he’s 100% out. He will be a huge loss – we don’t have too many forwards of his calibre on the bench.

“We will be down to the wire. Like all the clubs, we are struggling for numbers these days. We do our training in Killarney. Sure, there is only a handful down here. The defeats in the last two years were tough.

“Going into it last year everyone thought we had a chance but they beat us well. To lose it again would be a huge disappointment. The next few years will be tough, it’s hard to keep things going when the young lads just aren’t there. But look, it’s great to be there and we can’t wait for it.

“Portmagee will be subject to a pitch inspection, given the weather lately, but I expect that everyone will want it played and there aren’t many pitches available at this time of year. If it isn’t, the game will have to go out to January since Graham O’Sullivan will be going away with the Kerry team.

“Hopefully it can be played and hopefully we can do it, we will certainly be giving it

our very best.”