February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
After much wrangling, the schedule committee pushed the Derry and Kerry JFA semifinal and the SFB final between Clare and Offaly back one week, while the hurlers of Stamford and Kilkenny will have to cool their heels until Oct. 12, when they will play the Senior Hurling semifinal.
1 P.M., JFA SEMI
KERRY VS. DERRY
The revised schedule creates a crackerjack football schedule for Sunday, Oct. 5. First up will be favorites Derry versus Kerry. Derry had an impressive season sparked by the powerful midfield pairing of Joe Diver and Ruari O’Neill. Tom Harkin provides a real presence at center back and the capable forwards line is led by Sean Holman, Darren Doherty, and Anthony Lillis.
Kerry come into this match on the back of a runaway victory over Fermanagh in the quarterfinals. Kerry overwhelmed Fermanagh on that occasion ignited by dominant midfield play from Miley O’Connell and Louis Holland and a blizzard of scores from their dynamic corner forward pair of Andrew Keane and Mike McKenna. Kerry’s defense was never tested on the day, but they are a solid crew with players the caliber of Adrian Fox and Ian Galvin.
The key to this match for Kerry will be to get McKenna and Keane the ball in a position to do some damage. However, Derry should be able to control the middle of the pitch with Diver, O’Neill, and Harkin stopping Kerry’s attack of the source and advancing to challenge St. Barnabas in the JFA Final.
2:45 P.M., SFB FINAL
CLARE VS. OFFALY
Clare will play Offaly in the first of two finals on the day, and it should be a good one. Pat Scanlon began assembling this Clare side last winter and a victory on Sunday would make for a Banner year indeed.
Clare have yet to taste defeat this season and their star-studded lineup will take some beating on Sunday. Clare are strong from 1 through 15 and have plenty in reserve on the bench. Martin Slowey, Pa Murphy, Rory Sweeney are excellent backs and center back Paul O’Connor is one of the best defenders in New York.
Gary Dowd can cause a manager to pull his hair out when he plays out of control, but when Dowd harnesses his splendid talents, he can dominate. Michael Slowey has found a good running mate in Mike Keaveney up front, so Offaly’s defense will be under pressure.
Offaly, though, are a gutty side that have been chasing this B title since its inauguration, challenging every year only to falter at the finish. The Faithful have some question marks, notably at midfield and at center forward. The defense, led by James Mitchell and Sean Nolan in the pivotal central slots, has added fresh legs in Hugh Bannon and Alan Landers to the always stingy Dolans, Mike and Mark.
Up front, Offaly struggled for scores early in the year, with David Reynolds shouldering most of the burden. Offaly’s attack improved by leaps and bounds as the year went on with John Mason stepping up and wing forwards Karl Kelly and Kieran Brennan injecting some much needed spark.
This match will be close, but Clare have worn the mantle of favorites all season, and worn it well, and they remain favorites on Sunday.
4:30 P.M., SFA FINAL
STAMFORD VS. DONEGAL
The last match features Stamford taking on Donegal in a SFA Final. When these two last met way back in May, Stamford dominated a weak Donegal side. Donegal did not have the quality of players in their lineout that we have come to expect and they continued to struggle all year, only just qualifying them for the playoffs.
But since that May shellacking, Donegal have not stood still. They have added three key players in their championship defense with Liam England, Paul Finley, and Finnonan Murray. Those three give Donegal a much more dangerous look, but it is unlikely that Stamford will be intimidated.
Stamford have only gone up the Thruway with the bitter taste of defeat in their mouths once this year and they don’t intend to make it twice. They have been the class of this division all year, fielding a team that is equal parts talent, grit, and chemistry. New York County stars Jason Killeen and Kevin Newell lead the defense from their central positions and they are well flanked.
Pat Coyne has been impeccable at wingback and Richie Purcell and Justin O’Halloran are real workhorses. Ronan Mooney has had a great season at midfield and will face a big challenge on Sunday. Fergal O’Neill, Eric Bradley, and Dermot Gallagher lead an explosive forward line that works well together and doesn’t rely too much on one player. Stamford’s balance should be enough to see off what should be a fierce Donegal challenge in the capper of a great afternoon of football.
N.Y. COMMITS TO ULSTER
New York has elected to remain in the Ulster Hurling Championship for three more seasons. The decision was not clear cut, as a number of hurling clubs felt that the expense did not justify the investment.
The New York GAA picks up the tab for the visiting team and, unlike the New York footballers in the Connacht Championship, the hurling was not a big draw last spring.
The Ulster Council has sought an increase in funds from the New York GAA in light of the expansion of county panels to 30. Despite these financial concerns the New York hurling establishment decided to re-up for the required three more years.
Perhaps they were encouraged by New York’s good showing versus Derry. Despite a terrible winter that curtailed New York’s preparations, the exiles gave Derry a scare before succumbing 0-15 to 1-10.
SCHEDULE
SUNDAY. OCT. 12
12:30 p.m., JFA final, Derry-Kerry winner vs. Barnabas
2:15, SH semi, Connecticut vs. Kilkenny
4, FBD Cup final, New York vs. Mayo
Admission goes to $20 beginning this Sunday. Also, the New York GAA will hold their annual dance on Feb. 21. Guests of Honor will be John and Mary Cox. Call Seamus Dooley at (914) 963-3825 for details.
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