Kilmurry to bring 12th championship back west

WHATEVER the result of the 2011 county final, it will be nigh on impossible to unseat St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield’s year as the story of the season. Their place in Sunday’s final, which throws in at Cusack Park at 3.30pm, comes on the back of on and off field tribulations, which could have justifiably resulted in St Joseph’s parking their GAA aspirations for the year.
Losing one of their most talented footballers, the late Niall White, shook the club and particularly his similarly aged teammates, to the core.
Hammered by Doonbeg in the Cusack Cup semi-final, having reached the last four in their first season of Division 1 league football, was the first on-field setback to hit St Joseph’s.
Their early championship displays hinted at worse to come as they lost their opening games to Miltown and Cratloe. Facing into their third group game against Shannon Gaels, Doora-Barefield’s priority was to somehow avoid finishing bottom of the group.
Instead they cut loose, winning 3-10 to 0-11 and with Miltown losing to Cratloe, Doora-Barefield found themselves in an unexpected quarter-final.
In their opening games against Miltown and Cratloe, St Joseph’s scored a total of just 1-9, conceding 2-16. Since then, they haven’t conceded another goal, while offensively they have found the net five times, with minor midfielder Alan O’Neill scoring three of them, two in the semi-final win over Wolfe Tones.
The performance that turned St Joseph’s into championship contenders was their 0-7 to 0-6 quarter-final win over Doonbeg. After that, confidence was not an issue. They built on that display to defeat Wolfe Tones in the semi-final and now find themselves an hour from unprecedented glory.
Kilmurry’s season has been more straightforward. First off, they won the Cusack Cup, adding the O’Gorman Cup to their collection. In the championship, they strolled through their group with comprehensive wins over Kilrush and Wolfe Tones, although they only beat Kilmihil by three points.
Since then, they have squeezed past Cooraclare and Cratloe, beating both by just a point. Kilmurry kicked 13 wides against Cooraclare and 10 against Cratloe. A tally of 23 wides in two games is something that Kilmurry will have been honing in on in the fortnight since their semi-final win. By their standards, some of the finishing has been poor, although the wide count does indicate Kilmurry are winning plenty of possession. Once Pat Cosgrove throws the ball in on Sunday, Kilmurry will be very keen to avail of a much higher percentage of their scoring chances. Given that Sunday represents a first county final for this generation of St Joseph’s footballers, Kilmurry will seek to exploit possible tension by getting a grip early on.
Ideally, St Joseph’s will want to kick an early score or two to settle themselves. They will look to Kevin Dilleen, Colm Mullen and the invaluable big match experience of Declan O’Keeffe to ensure they don’t let the occasion affect their ability to play football. The former Kerry goalkeeper has not just excelled between the posts this year but has kicked five priceless points, including two pivotal 45s against Doonbeg.
Kilmurry Ibrickane captain, Peter O’Dwyer is likely to ensure plenty of primary midfield possession for the 2010 All-Ireland finalists. His partnership with Paul O’Connor is an established one and is likely to have an edge over Alan O’Neill and Mark Raftery, the likely St Joseph’s pairing.
Kilmurry have a couple of key decisions to make up front. Can they afford to start without top scorer Johnny Daly, who kicked the semi-final winner? Niall Hickey also made an important contribution in his six minutes on the field and the space available in Cusack Park could suit him, if he starts.
Ian McInerney and Noel Downes, both of whom were amongst those substituted against Cratloe, know they’ll have had to show well in training to keep their places for Sunday.
Ger Fannin and Stephen Collins will have key marking jobs in the St Joseph’s full-back line, while Kevin Dilleen and Greg Lyons, in the half-back line, will have very important roles, given their experience and ability.
Shane Hickey has been playing well at corner-back for Kilmurry and kept Conor McGrath scoreless in the semi-final, although the latter did kick four balls into Peter O’Dwyer’s hands. Martin McMahon has been playing superbly in the other corner for Kilmurry. Neither corner-back will back away from any challenge presented on Sunday, although Colm Mullen, Enda Lyons, David O’Brien and Cathal Duggan have plenty of ability and self-belief. With Seán Flynn back from injury, St Joseph’s will have to decide if they are going to continue playing him in the half-forward line or in his regular defensive position.
Kilmurry will start as warm favourites in what will be their sixth county final appearance since 2002 and the parish’s 12th since 1933. As long as St Joseph’s maintain their new-found confidence and form, the 2011 final has the makings of a fascinating decider.
Kilmurry’s experience and tradition indicates though that championship number 12 will be heading for The Hand on Sunday evening.