3 clubs aim at All-Irelands finals
Can 3 Cork clubs qualify for their respective All-Ireland finals as they face Ulster opposition? There are also a few interesting games at under 21 level to round off the county championships - well almost.
AIB All-Ireland Senior Semi-final
Sarsfields v Slaughtneil on Sunday in St Conleth’s Park Newbridge at 1.30pm
If you said to someone after the county hurling final that Sars would be within 60 minutes of reaching the All-Ireland, I can just imagine what the reaction would have been.
But that’s exactly where they are and they can certainly extend the journey.
This is a tricky looking tie; Slaughtneil have been down this road before, 5 Ulster titles to their name and while they have never reached the final, opportunity knocks again.
In the Ulster final a few weeks ago they displayed tremendous character to win a cracker against Portaferry, trailing by 8 points entering the final quarter, they dug deep and goals by Se McGuigan and Shea Cassidy helped them to an impressive 2-19 to 1-19 win.
The quality of hurling both sides produced was outstanding - similar in fact to the Sars v Ballygunner game. All 4 teams showed desire, heart and the skill that embodies the club championship.
There are very good players in the Slaughneil side. Apart from the goalscorers Matthew Conlan, Brendan Rodgers, Finn Turpin and Conor Coyle all excelled in their latest triumph.
In the immediate aftermath of the Munster Final, a breathless and emotional Sars manager Johnny Crowley said: “To be even standing here talking about an All-Ireland semi-final is somewhat surreal, but I know what the lads can do and they delivered in spades today, it’s just brilliant for the club and everyone involved.”
Experienced midfielder and a key player in that win Daniel Kearney said he was delighted. “We knew this was in us and we were conscious of the defeat last year and we were determined to do a lot better and we certainly did.”
As for an All-Ireland semi-final 10 days before Christmas: “Bring it on, wouldn’t swap it for anything! It’s a great place to be and hopefully we can go one step further and get to Croke Park, but that is not going to be easy as Ulster hurling is pretty strong.”
The manager was of the same view. “Over the years clubs from Ulster have tested the best and we will not be taking them for granted. Slaughtneil have been here before, it’s a 1st time for us, but we will prepare and do our work and really looking forward to it.”
The manner of the win over Ballygunner though should give them an extra pep in the step when they got back to training.
Work rate, intensity and a huge desire all over the field were big factors - now they must do so again. Are they capable of doing that? You would hope so and they will also see this as an ideal opportunity to reach the promised land of an All-Ireland club final, a rare occurrence for Cork clubs in recent years.
It’s unlikely the starting 15 will change, Ben Graham has not put a foot wrong since been drafted in for the Feakle game, while in front of him Conor O’Sullivan, Luke Elliott clipped over 0-2 last day, Eoghan Murphy and Paul Leopold were top class.
The return to full fitness of Cathal McCarthy has been huge for Sars, and with Daniel Kearney they have the capacity to dominate and supply quality ball to the attack, not to mind the fact that between them they hit 0-5, along with setting up the 2 goals scored by Shane O’Regan. O’Regan’s impact of the bench could also be crucial.
Daniel Hogan, Aaron Myers - quiet by his high standard in the final, Cian Darcy and Jack O’Connor are enough of a threat there to trouble any defensive unit.
The one danger Sars might face would be complacency, but the knowledge and knowhow of Johnny Crowley and Diarmuid O’Sullivan will surely have drilled into them that these days do not come around too often so let’s take it.
If they match the performance they produced in Thurles the last day, it’s hard to see them losing, anything less could be costly.
This is a well crafted and experienced side and Sars get the nod to win.
The match is live on C103.
AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-final
Watergrasshill v Carey Faughs in Páirc Tailtean in Navan on Sunday at 1pm
“This is a marvellous win and the manner in which it has been achieved will only bring us on and we cannot wait not for the semi-final.” Daire O’Leary was still breathless after the Munster Final win over a Cashel King Cormac’s side that were literally almost blown away in the 2nd half on a wet and windy night in the Gaelic Grounds.
Captain Sean Desmond was just as thrilled. “Fabulous feeling - it’s been a great few weeks for the club winning the county and now this, it’s just unbelievable, but there’s a lot of very good players in this team and hopefully this journey has a bit to run yet.”
Both Daire and Sean were adamant that the Ulster and Antrim champions Carey Faughs will get their full attention. Daire missed the Cork team holiday: “it was worth it for this”. “There is a great tradition of hurling in Antrim as we all know over the years, and they will see this as an ideal opportunity to show that and we will not be under any illusions; unless you perform you won’t win.”
Carey Faughs have been crowned Antrim champions 4 times and this is their 2nd title in 3 years, and in this year’s Ulster campaign they have won some tight games - one on penalties, the semi-final by a goal and the final was a one point game 1-11 to 0-13 over Swatragh from Derry.
James Black, James McCouaig, Caolan McCaughan are their key men in attack while Conall McGlynn, Callum Canes and Conleith McGinley all played important roles in digging out a narrow Ulster Final win.
The ‘Hill would appear to be hitting form at just the right time. 6 days after winning the county, they beat Clare champions Wolfe Tones in the Munster semi-final.
They followed that with a masterly Munster Final win that had all the hallmarks of a team growing in confidence and with the astute Eddie Enright guiding their fortunes, you know they will be well prepped for this game and will not underestimate the Antrim side.
There is a nice balance to the ‘Hill’s line up and they also have depth in the squad.
Aidan Foley is a quality goalkeeper fronted by classy defenders in Daire O’Leary, Kevin O’Neill and Dylan McCarthy while the midfield pairing of Anthony Cronin and Aaron Spriggs are very effective and hard working.
The attack though are top class; Adam Murphy (1-12 in the Munster Final, 1-5 from play), Brendan Lehane has an eye for goal and Sean Desmond and Padraig O’Leary are proven scorers.
It’s hard to see them losing and if they reproduce the form of the last 3 games, they look set to be Croke Park bound in the middle of January.
AIB All-Ireland Junior Hurling semi-final
Russell Rovers v Ballinascreen on Saturday at The Downs Westmeath at 1pm
“It’s a bit surreal to be standing here talking about playing in an All-Ireland semi-final in a couple of weeks but it’s great for the club and the area in general,” said Russell Rovers captain Ciarán Sheehan after the win over Kilrossanty.
In fact the conversation started by me saying: ‘I thought my days for interviewing you were over’, to which he replied: ‘so did I’ but that’s Ciarán and what an addition he has been to the East Cork side.
The performance in the Munster Final was by no means perfect. They did lose Kevin Tattan to a straight red card, but they got the job done. In 2019 they won their 1st Munster title but lost in the All-Ireland Final where injuries to key players did not help.
It’s Ulster opposition on Saturday but manager Dave Dorgan said they will be taking nothing for granted. “Semi-finals are great to be in but fraught with danger and we will get our work done on Ballinascreen.”
Ballinascreen are probably better known as a football club; Tony Scullion a real Derry star played for them but they are proud of their hurling heritage.
In recent games they have racked up some big scores; 0-23 in the Ulster semi-final, followed that with 1-25 in the final and then bagged 1-19 in the All-Ireland QF against Fr Murphy’s, impressive scoring by any standards, though they picked up a few injuries in those games. Paul Cleary, Eamonn Conway, Marty Bradley, Eoin McCallion and the McGlades Philip and Jamie Lee are among their better players.
Apart from the very experienced Ciarán Sheehan there is a lot of quality in the Russell Rovers side. The twin threat in attack is provided by Brian Hartnett and Josh Beausang, while Luke Duggan Murray has chipped in some neat goals. Kevin O’Brien, James Kennefick, Ross Walsh and Ruairi Cummins are others who have impressed.
Cork v Derry in hurling should have only one outcome and that is a win for Russell Rovers.
County championships
These are almost concluded but a few under 21 games are to be played over the weekend. The main one is the McCarthy Insurance Group A Football Final with Bishopstown v Beara on Sunday at 2.30pm in Páirc Uí Rinn.
The B Football semi-final is on in Bishopstown 4G pitch on Saturday at 12.30 with Ballinhassig playing Kilmurry and congrats to that club on their brilliant win in the Munster Final last Saturday. St Nick’s await the winners in the final. Next week is the last column of the year & we will have a look at the draws for the 2025 county championships and a reflection on the 2024 season.