LAST EIGHT STANDING: The face for the Fahey Cup is about to get serious
Dara Curran (Castlerea St. Kevin's) and Thomas Featherston (Oran) have big games in the senior football championship quarter-finals to look forward to next weekend. Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
The senior football championship is about to take the turn for home, with holders St. Brigid’s out in front.
Pádraig Pearses remain the most likely side to chase down the Green and Red. The remaining six teams still harbour hopes of reaching a semi-final or creating a shock.
Scores are flowing, two-pointers are flying over, and the entertainment value is high. One noticeable feature has been the quality of young players shining in the championship, which is a great sign. I am sure Mark Dowd and his management team are taking note that Roscommon have fresh new blood waiting in the wings.
Right now, after Sunday’s quarter-final draw, the door is open for the big two to reach the final.
The holders are playing within themselves, and the battle with Strokestown will have been a wake-up call. If you are not at it on a certain day, you can be caught.
But knockout football sharpens the mind, and one would expect Damien Mulligan's men to raise the temperature from here on in.
The loss of Shane Cunnane and Eddie Nolan is massive, and there will come a day when their absence is severely felt. It has left a huge hole in the middle third to fill, resulting in players currently occupying those positions being played out of position.
They were ruthless against Roscommon Gaels and Boyle, looking very sharp and playing with hunger, desire and an obsession to put scores on the board.
But they took their eye off the ball against Clann na nGael, suffering defeat ahead of the last eight.
In fairness to Niall Murray’s men, they rarely dwell on losing, as they always bounce back. Eoin Colleran is back from winning the American championship with Chicago, adding more firepower to their attack.
Wing-back Jack Nevin is in outstanding form. The champions of 2024 have a squad with the temperament and experience required to win the Fahey Cup.
It is impossible to get a true reading on Boyle’s form. They looked impressive against Clann na nGael, who are now in a relegation battle, but appeared well off the pace against Pádraig Pearses.
In their final group game against Roscommon Gaels, they were in a dogfight until the Town side had a player sent off just before half-time. This changed the outcome of the game as Boyle hit 2-4 without reply in the third quarter to seal the deal.
In previous seasons, Boyle headed into the quarter-finals as one of the talking horses. This time around, however, they arrive with less pressure and fewer expectations on their shoulders.
That will suit Fergal O'Donnell, who will have planned the three-week break carefully to get his team primed for knockout football.
The best thing that happened to Pat Regan’s men was coming from eight points down in the final quarter to draw against Castlerea St Kevin’s in a cracking, old-fashioned championship game.
Oran have often been accused of having lovely footballers with a soft centre, but they showed character, composure and resilience to reel in the home side.
That comeback will build the grit and determination needed to finally clear the quarter-final hurdle, which has proved to be Oran’s Becher’s Brook over the past five years.
While it was a free hit against St Brigid’s in their final group game, with the safety net of a quarter-final place already secured, the Black and Amber did not look out of place.
Pearse McGinley’s men came within inches of beating the champions and had the look of a side enjoying their football. But experienced defender David Neary, who is going travelling, will be a massive loss to last year's intermediate champions. His calmness and reliability in the backline will be difficult to replace.
In their three group games, they have hit 13 two-pointers, including six in their latest outing against St. Brigid’s.
Slowly but surely, under the shrewd guidance of Decie Hoare, the Gaels are bubbling under the surface. Like Castlerea, they have introduced young guns into the equation.
Getting Eoghan Carthy and Cian Connolly on the field against North Roscommon was a massive bonus. They have pace to burn and are playing a quick brand of football. The play-off game against North Roscommon also meant full-back Michael Gillooly served his one-game suspension.
Life does not get any easier, however, as they move from the Group of Death into a quarter-final clash with St Brigid’s.
Two wins on the bounce have changed the mood and landscape for the Ballinlough men because, as a free spirit, they are a dangerous animal given the talent they possess.
They held their nerve to beat Western Gaels in a pressure-filled contest and, despite losing to Strokestown, still scored 3-14. Their attack has plenty of scores in it and, under the new rules, they are full of running, with the Heneghan clan improving by the game.
On the downside, they do not score enough goals and can switch off during games.
While the West Roscommon side is unlikely to win the championship, they have emerged as one of the most improved teams during the group stages.
Dara Bruen’s side are brilliantly coached, and the influx of youth from recent county minor-winning teams has injected energy, life, enthusiasm and a real sense that they belong at senior level.
One of the major improvements has been the additional scoring support, which has eased the burden on Adam McDermott.
As the Premier League transfer day deadline closed, my readers wanted to get their business done early.
Before Andy Moran this season, who was the last first-time All-Ireland winning Sam Maguire boss? It was Tyrone duo, Fergal Lohan and Brian Dooher in 2021.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to sign on the dotted line. John Croghan, Bundoran; Fr. John McManus, PP Castlerea; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Charlie Candon, Boyle; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Pat, Sligo; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford, and Michael Kearns, Clapham also signed new contracts.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the first promoted club to win their opening two games of a Premier League season?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s Teaser came from London.
Star pupil: Mickey Joe Egan who scored 1-9, including 1-6 from play, for St. Dominic’s during their senior hurling championship quarter-final win over Athleague.
Crucial win for: Western Gaels in the senior football championship semi-final relegation play-off against St. Faithleach’s.
Much do better: Michael Glaveys know that they have work to do on turning missed opportunities into scores.
Spot of bother: Galway on the lookout for a new senior team football manager after Padraic Joyce’s seven-year stint in charge came to an end last week.
Weekend highlight: Even though Dympna and myself were watching from home, it looked like an amazing night in Croke Park for the Katie Taylor Farewell Fight.
The only downside was a staged boxing match, with only a handful of punches thrown. French fighter Flora Pili arrived in Dublin to fulfil a fixture and, no doubt, got well paid in the process.
What a cracker: Evan Gunn’s goal for Elphin against Michael Glaveys in the SFC preliminary quarter-final will take some beating to deny it being the Goal of the Championship.
“Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something.”
Tyrone and Kilkenny are the only two counties to have a straight knockout in their senior club football championship.
Two years ago, Clann na nGael and St. Faithleach’s produced the game of the championship, resulting in a thrilling win for Faithleach’s after extra time.
Now they meet in this year’s relegation final.
