Repeat county senior hurling final on the cards?
Jamie Donoghue and his Pádraig Pearses team-mates will be hoping to dethrone Four Roads in next Sunday's senior hurling championship semi-final at Ballyforan. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
If St. Dominic’s can get Oran out of their heads, they can win this game.
Whatever it is, the Rockfield-based club’s capacity to mess with Dominic’s mindset has illuminated previous meetings between the teams, none more so than in the group stages last month when Paddy Fallon’s 15-point haul helped his side to a 0-23 to 2-14 triumph.
Micheál Hussey is the best player in the county right now, and if Declan Leonard, Paul Kenny, Joseph Henry, Cathal Kenny and captain Shane Keane turn up with their A game, Francie Quine’s side will fancy their chances of reaching a first final since 2016.
But there were signs in Ballyforan last Sunday that St. Dominic’s are beginning to find the momentum that swept them all the way to last year’s decider, granted that Athleague have been a huge disappointment this season.
Mike Feeley, Micheál Byrne and Jason Martin form a strong defensive spine, and with captain Jack Lohan, Ruairí Kilcline, Mickey Joe Egan, Naos Connaughton and Connell Kennelly playing with confidence, Martin “Thady” Beirne’s side will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of getting back to the final.
A fascinating battle awaits with St. Dominic’s, as long as they stay mentally strong and limit Paddy Fallon’s scoring opportunities, getting the nod to prevail.
Whisper it quietly, but this is a great chance for Pádraig Pearses to cause an upset.
The problem for Robbie Donoghue’s side is that Four Roads are winning matches without playing anywhere near their best hurling.
Pearses could play out of their skin on Sunday afternoon and still lose. That’s a difficult scenario to overcome no matter what way the underdogs dress it up.
Still, any team with Seán Canning firing on all cylinders has a chance, and with Matthew Comerford, Eoin Canning, Daniel Staunton and Darragh Finn always capable of coming up with big plays, Pearses will be confident.
How Eoghan Costello, Luke Corbett, Ronan Finn and Karl Feehily tie down Four Roads’ attack is likely to decide the outcome of the game.
Brian Mannion, Conor Mulry and Conor Morris make up a potent full-forward line, while Adam Donnelly and Liam Óg Coyle are always capable of delivering defining scores.
Four Roads’ ability to get goals has always been their strong point, as it was in 2022 when they defeated Pearses by 3-14 to 0-15 to ignite a spurt of titles that’s aiming for four-in-a-row.
If they’re to be stopped, this is the time to do it. No better team than Pearses to ruffle their feathers but so much has to go right for them, which is a big ask.
A week later than originally scheduled, Shannon Gaels and Cregg will do battle for the right to be among the last eight teams in this year’s intermediate football championship.
It’s hard to imagine that Creggs have lost much momentum from their excellent display against Tulsk last time out. The edge that was missing against St. Michael’s returned in spades, and the extra week might have been a Godsend to replenish tired minds and bodies.
Shannon Gaels were far less impressive, albeit they won, against Kilbride and, once again, they’ll look to Evan Corcoran, who was kicking points for fun in North Roscommon colours last Sunday, for the bulk of their scores.
The Dowd brothers have been leading lights for Creggs, and if their supporting cast can get in among the scores, they should have the ammunition to book their place in the quarter-finals.
