The weight of tradition sides with Sion. Although without a final appearance in seven seasons, they carry 35 titles behind them into Sunday’s semi final. Passage wait to win just once.
Tradition counts but so does recent performance. Passage have only blinked once all year and that was in a dead rubber against Ballygunner. While Eoin Kelly remains their marquee man (6-33 in this year’s edition), they can turn to five other scoring forwards. Owen Connors, Killian Fitzgerald and Conor Carey contributed 1-7 between them in the quarter final. Connors is a consistent championship performer, Fitzgerald presents a shooting threat from long range and Carey offers an aerial option. They score plenty (11-89) but also concede plenty (8-89). John Whitty proved the match winner when the sides last met and he likes to pile forward whenever the opportunity opens up. He has registered 2-9 thus far. They bring an expansive style but also a dogged determination against Peter Queally. They came from nine points behind against Ballyduff Upper last time around when playing below their best.
Sion looked to be back in business after three straight wins. They have been struck by an injury crisis since. Ian Galgey, Peter Penkert and Martin O’Neill all out with season long injuries. Not that their absence has derailed their challenge one iota. They went about their business early against Tallow. In attack, they look to youth to supply the scores. Stephen Roche has been buzzing from the championship throw in against Ballygunner and the supremely gifted Austin Gleeson looks at ease in most departments. Roche leads the Sion scoring charts (1-31 to Gleeson's 0-26). They combined for 17 points against Tallow. The other sectors are rich in experience. Ian O’Regan is enjoying a renaissance year between the sticks (only four goals put past him), Tony Browne improves with each outing, Owen Whelan provides a sturdy appearance at six and Eoin McGrath darts around the middle and sprays low ball inside.
Sion know the lie of the land here. Passage experienced a chastening defeat to De La Salle on their semi final visit (2-21 to 2-5). They need to start far smarter than in the quarter final. Tiny fractions separate these sides as evidenced by their meeting in the group stages. Six in six games suggests a shortfall for Sion but Sean Ryan has a nose for goal (three in this year’s championship) and he can aid the efforts of Gleeson and Roche. One team does possess the spark of unpredictability at the edge of the square however. Passage don’t depend on him completely but if Eoin Kelly can recreate his heroics from the early rounds, a first final since 1997 is on the horizon.
Semi Final
Stats
County titles: 35
For: 6-105
Against: 4-80
Number of scorers: 17
Top scorer: Stephen Roche 1-31
Passage
County titles: 0
For: 11-89
Against: 8-87
Number of scorers: 12
Top scorer: Eoin Kelly 6-33
Betting:
Mount Sion 4/6 Draw 8/1 Passage 6/4
Prediction:
Passage
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