St Mary’s turn on power again

All-Ireland Club IFC semi-final - St Mary’s (Kerry) 2-20 Ratoath (Meath) 1-5: Perhaps it was the talk of litmus tests and stern examinations that drove St Mary’s to such dizzying heights.

Of the many teams who fell at their feet during those hectic weekends last October and November, few had succeeded in drawing sweat from the brow of Maurice Fitzgerald’s outfit. Castleisland Desmonds, yes, but aside from that close run county semi-final, who else? Spa? Tipperary’s Upperchurch-Drombane? Sporadic were the inquests of the latter pair; the outcome of the respective ties never truly in doubt.

Ratoath, though, would be different.