Brigid’s natural instincts can halt Haven’s gallop

Surely it couldn’t happen to a team with such a young age profile. But it says something about the maturity on the youthful shoulders of this St. Brigid’s team that they’ve earned the right to feel that they won’t be a million miles away from reaching club football’s showpiece when they tackle Cork and Munster champions, Castlehaven, in this afternoon's AIB All-Ireland club senior football championship semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles, which throws in at 1.45 p.m..

It’s uncharted territory for both sets of players, an opportunity that they’ll be keen to make the most of.

After taking out Corofin in the Connacht final with their best display of the season, Brigid’s are entitled to feel that they’re in with a big shout. But any Cork side at this stage of the competition, with that innate confidence that comes with teams from the Rebel County, are a dangerous animal.

While Castlehaven’s pedigree has been revitalised by a sixth Cork senior football title alongside a fourth provincial crown — and a first since 1997 — the natural quality within this St. Brigid’s team has imbued them with a belief that they’re well capable of putting themselves in a position to follow in the footsteps of the all-conquering heroes of 2013.

But they’ll need a bit of luck along the way. A dry sod would be a good starting point as opposed to the horrendous conditions that Castlehaven endured in getting the better of Dingle after a penalty shootout in the Munster decider.

What that game proved is that the physicality of the West Cork side is a big advantage to them at this time of year, never mind the scoring potential that Brian Hurley brings to the table.

Captain Mark Collins and All-Star nominee Rory Maguire have been influential protagonists too, while Damien Cahalane — his team’s hero during that dramatic penalty shootout — is a teak tough defender with a rich family tradition in the game. His father Niall and his uncle John Cleary were members of the successful Cork team that won All-Ireland titles in 1989 and 1990.

St. Brigid’s won’t fear Castlehaven, but they’ll be mindful that Sunday’s opponents are laden with resilience. They never have the look of a side that are beaten. The Haven have been to the well numerous times this season, but they’ve always come up trumps when the hard questions have been asked.

Brigid’s will place their trust in those natural footballing instincts that have prospered in the games that have really mattered. Sides have set up differently against them this season but the players’ intelligence has always figured out a way to get the job done.

It’s a 50-50 game at best, even more so if the weather Gods conspire against the South Roscommon men.

But if Corofin were playing Castlehaven this weekend, the vast majority of pundits would be tipping the Galway champions to reach the final.

All the focus will be on the other semi-final between heavyweights Glen and Kilmacud Crokes. For the winners on Sunday, they will be the underdogs in the decider in two weeks’ time.

On the evidence of we’ve seen so far, that team can be St. Brigid’s. But there are likely to be more than a few scares along the way.