All-Kerry final a distinct possibility

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ SEMI-FINAL Tralee CBS v SP Sliabh Luachra Saturday, February 1 (time and venue TBC)

TRALEE CBS bowed out of the O’Sullivan Cup at semi-final stage but have gone unbeaten ever since – a hard-fought draw with the Sem was the closest they came. Seán Quilter and Conor Hayes have worn county jerseys already this year and the likes of Devon Burns and Joe Lenihan are proven on big stages, while they have an impressive strength of depth. They blew away the challenge of a fancied Bandon with ease in the semi-final.

SP Sliabh Luachra, in just their second year at the grade, started off as dark horses, but they have sprinted past a lot of thoroughbreds in the meantime. The likes of James Darmody and Cathal Ryan are on fire, Ronan Collins and Dan Murphy is as good a midfield as is out there, and any defence that includes Kerry Under 20 Alan Dineen and Damien Cronin has to be respected. Again, they were comfortable in their quarter-final against Ballincollig.

Verdict: Tralee have Frewen players involved in their semi-final meeting three days beforehand, which will surely have an impact. If Tralee can send the right ball into Quilter, that could be crucial. Otherwise...your guess is as good as mine!

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ SEMI-FINAL Saturday, February 1 (time and venue TBC) St Brendans v St Francis, Rochestown Saturday, February 1 (time and venue TBC)

TWO schools with serious pedigree.

The Sem have 25 titles; Rochestown have none, but came famously close to a hurling and football double in 2015 and have been right up there in recent years. The Sem have gone unbeaten so far (albeit with an incredible semi-final comeback against St Flannans) and have the O’Sullivan Cup already in the bag.

Their seniors are unaffected by the Frewen semi-final against Clonmel; that’s a measure of how strong a panel they have. Unfortunately, Both Michael Lenihan and Pádraic Looney are serious doubts through injury; that’s two big guns missing.

They’ll need everything they have against Rochestown, who are backed by a lot of the players who barely lost out at semi-final stage to Corca Dhuibhne last year.

Star of the show has been Adam Cantwell, who scored a hat-trick in their semi-final thriller against Clonakilty, but Alan O’Hare is just as dangerous.

Keeper Cian O’Leary, Sean Andrews, and Shane Aherne all won All Ireland minors last year – a role reversal from recent Corn Uí Mhuirí meetings between Cork and Kerry.

Verdict: With no injuries, I’d just fancy the Sem to shade a tight duel. But with those injuries .... my head is over-ruling my heart right now (don’t worry; neither are particularly reliable in these matters).