Whyte urges Pearses players to embrace special opportunity
The Pádraig Pearses intermediate football panel, seen here after winning the county title on Saturday week last, will have the chance to add more silverware to their collection when they meet Tuam/Cortoon in next Sunday's Connacht final at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Pádraig Pearses are set for a fascinating Connacht LGFA intermediate final against Tuam/Cortoon in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry, on Sunday next at 1 p.m..
John Whyte’s charges face into their third game in 15 days as they come up against a side that possess All-Ireland winning captain Kate Geraghty and intercounty player Aoife O’Rourke in their ranks.
After claiming the county title against Kilbride, Pearses secured a 4-11 to 0-11 Connacht semi-final victory over CT Gaels in Kilcoyne Park on Sunday last. An Áine Ryan goal inside the opening three minutes gave the South Roscommon ladies the ideal platform. Laura Glennon added a second major as she kicked 1-1 inside the opening ten minutes, with Katie Canning also getting on the scoresheet.
Those scores propelled Pádraig Pearses 2-2 to 0-1 in front. But Ciara Henry and Kate McCarthy led the CT Gaels fightback, while a Ciara Forkin score drew the sides level. However, Katelyn Keogh inched her side 2-4 to 0-9 ahead at half time.
The third quarter saw few chances as Laura Glennon slotted over before the county minor bagged a crucial third goal to move her side 3-5 to 0-10 in front.
Glennon stretched her side’s lead before Katelyn Keogh grabbed Pádraig Pearses’ fourth major to ensure a Connacht final awaits against a Tuam/Cortoon side who comfortably accounted for Mayo’s Moy Davitts in their last four match.
Whyte admits that the quick turnaround will be a challenge for his players.
“It is very hard to know what you are up against. Looking at scorelines, they (Tuam/Cortoon) have kept the opposition to very low scores, keeping teams to less than ten points.
“That would suggest they have a really good backline. They have been scoring pretty well, and they have a couple of really good forwards and free-takers. It is going to be a tight battle.
“Galway are All-Ireland (senior) champions and Kate Geraghty produced a Player of the Match performance on the day. They will definitely be a really strong team. We know that after they beat the Mayo champions (Moy Davitts).
"Some of the girls would have been on the Roscommon panels for U-16, minor and intermediate.
“They would have experienced All-Ireland finals but there is no comparison between an All-Ireland final with your county and going somewhere with your club. We will have to be prepared for it and get as much information as we can on them,” the Pádraig Pearses manager stated.
Whyte feels it is paramount that his side treat this game the same as any other, as he hopes his side can embrace the opportunity in front of them.
“You can let the occasion overwhelm you, or you can take a step back and saw ‘we have been playing football since we were eight years of age’. Sunday is just another game. I know that is an old cliché but that is the reality of it.
"Nobody will be expected to do anything that they have never done in their lives before, only to do things previously, but maybe do them a little bit better.
“They have to enjoy the occasion, but they also have to handle the hype and not get carried away. We just have to focus on the football. At the end of the day, it will be the football that will win or lose the game,” Whyte concluded.
It is also a big day for Boyle who face Knockmore from Mayo in their Connacht semi-final at Abbey Park on Sunday at 1 p.m..
