Hands up if
you predicted that this quartet would make it this far? Not many I guess. It’s
unchartered territory for two of them and a tale of the unexpected for Mount Sion
29 September
De La Salle v
The quarter finals revealed some chinks in the armour of the two time champions. After only conceding one goal in five group games, Ray Barry and company ran riot with a four goal burst. At the same time, Derek McGrath would have taken solace with the manner they held their nerve. Younger lights like Jake Dillon and Shane McNulty led the attack against Lismore as John Mullane took a back seat but still contributed three points. Nine different players raised a white flag in that game with 18 of their 24 points coming from play. The introduction of Anthony Kirwan at full forward and the switch of Austin Gleeson to midfield nudged an ugly spectacle in Sion’s favour a fortnight ago. Both players must start in those positions again to give Jimmy Meaney’s men a fighting chance. The championship’s top scorer Martin O’Neill will also be required to keep the scoreboard ticking over from frees and chip in with a couple from play. Their defence will also need to replicate their quarter final heroics. Ian O’Regan produced three excellent saves to keep the Gunners at bay. Provided that De La Salle don’t get sucked into a low scoring arm wrestle and shore up their full back line, they should qualify for their fourth county final.
Odds: De La Salle 3/10 Draw 11/1
Prediction: De La Salle
30 September
Fourmilewater v Dungarvan (6.00 at Fraher Field)
Fourmile have barely put a foot wrong and they needed to surmount a different sort of challenge from Abbeyside in the quarter finals. The Villagers put up their defensive screen in front of Shane Walsh and Jamie Barron which they had to find a way around. Points came from unlikely sources in Maurice O’Gorman, Liam Lawlor and Brian Wall before their two most potent weapons pitched in towards the end. They have always found a way to win and Dungarvan will offer another type of test. Their pace and youthful exuberance may give Fourmile issues if they have failed to recover properly from their 80 minutes of football last weekend. Dungarvan will certainly stick to their short game through thick and thin but they also require big performances from their key men like Shane Kearney, Jamie Nagle and Gavin Crotty. This should be in the balance right up to the finish and while the possibility of a surprise is greater in this semi final, Fourmile’s superior full forward line may prove the deciding factor.
Odds: Fourmile 4/11 Draw 10/1 Dungarvan 12/5
Prediction: Fourmilewater
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