Rivalry hotting up in the GAA stronghold of Tubbercurry
LOOKING forward to what promises to be a highly anticipated semi-final clash between two south Sligo neighbours and GAA strongholds is Tubbercurry manager Pat Kilcoyne.
The manager said everyone is really looking forward to Sunday’s meeting with Coolaney/Mullinabreena in Curry on Sunday afternoon.
To say the sides know each other is an understatement having played 4 times already this summer.
Pat said the Senior championship is a different story however and his side won’t be taking too much from the previous outings this year.
Having topped Group 1, Tubbercurry flew straight into the semi-finals but this too has a slight disadvantage in terms of waiting longer for the next competitive match.
Pat said: “We are all set for Sunday. It has been a long, long wait for us.
“It’s been 5 weeks since our last game and when you think about it that is an awful long time.
“We topped our group and that was good but the bad thing sort of was having to wait so long for our next game.
“When you’re waiting 5 weeks lads can get a bit rusty.
“It was Coolaney/Mullinabreena who we played in our last game (August 26th) who were also in our group.”
The manager said waiting over a month can be difficult. “It is hard and you have to keep the lads fresh.
“We did have challenge matches in between but they are never the same.
“The only thing that is really good about it is we did have a few injuries and we hope they will have recovered by Sunday so that’s a plus side to it. Fellas do get knocks of course and we have to wait until Sunday to rightly know but we are hoping all of the lads will be available,” he added.
Tubbercurry and Coolaney/Mullinabreena are extremely familiar with each other as the south Sligo neighbours have come up against each other numerous times over the years.
BOTH TEAMS KNOW EACH OTHER INSIDE OUT AND THIS IS OUR 4TH TIME TO PLAY THIS YEAR IN THE KIERNAN CUP AND CHAMPIONSHIP. BUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME ALTOGETHER.
Pat said: “Both teams know each other inside out and this is our 4th time to play each other this year in terms of the Kiernan Cup and Championship.
“We both know each other’s strengths but the Championship semi-final is a different ball game altogether.
“Everyone wants to do well and we have all been building to now.
“There are only 4 teams left in it now so it really is up for grabs for both teams.”
St Attracta’s, a mecca for young GAA players in south Sligo and the surrounding regions has fed a large crop of both Tubbercurry and Coolaney/Mullinabreena’s panels. Pat explained: “Most of the players on both teams all went through St Attracta’s and they know each other inside out.
“St Attracta’s would have been the main nursery for 90% of the players. We have 3 lads who are presently in St Attracta’s and still on the minor team.
“We have a lot from the U21 team too and we have some very experienced players there. The likes of Brian Curran, Colm McGee who is a main force in St Attracta’s, David Kelly, Stephen Gilmartin, Dermot Walsh, Fabio Cretaro and Mark Burke, these are lads that have been around a long time and they are well able for these big games. That too rubs off on the younger fellas if there is a bit of nerves there.”
Going back to their previous encounters, it has been very close and Sunday should prove no different. “There has only ever been a kick of the ball between us one way or another,” Pat said, adding that he was keeping an eye on the quarter-finals, both of which were played in Bunninadden 2 weekends ago. “There was only one I was really watching! ,” he laughed. “We cannot look beyond this one game,” adding that there are no talks of reaching the final, saying that he doesn’t even know when it’s on.
“If we win on Sunday we will look forward but if we lose we will have to wrap up. We are still there and we are happy with that.”
GAA is a massive part of the south Sligo community and having 2 neighbouring clubs facing each other in a Championship semi-final means there is much jovial banter around.“In south Sligo GAA is very strong. If you go into Tubbercurry when on a Saturday or a Monday when Championship football is on you will meet players from all the various clubs around south Sligo and the rivalry is great.
“There is a buzz now among the supporters and they are all looking forward to it. There are a few flags up and all that, we are all looking forward to it,” Pat added.