Kernan backs Portlaoise, but warns of over-confidence
The man who led Crossmaglen Rangers to three titles and an unbeaten sequence in the All-Ireland series suggests that over-confidence could be the one thing that could upset the Laois side in the decider against Ballina Stephenites.
However, respective managers Tommy Conroy and Tommy Lyons are satisfied that their teams can improve on their semi-final wins.
While Kernan no longer has an active involvement at club level, it didn't lesson his disappointment to see Crossmaglen lose all the more so since one of his sons, Stephen, was sent off. And another, Aaron, had the misfortune to miss the last of a number of scores late into injury-time which would have at least earned them a replay.
"We had a good record in the championship. It was going to happen some day that we would lose it, but having said that, we were disappointed with the way we played," he commented.
"We had enough of chances, but that does not take away from the pain of losing. We had four chances near the end to put them over, but nobody kicks a ball wide on purpose. You get the rub of the green some days and we had it on many a day. It was also very disappointing to finish up with Tony McEntee getting injured. But, it was Portlaoise's day and fair play to them. The only thing, I hope is that they don't get carried away. The final is yet to come."
Portlaoise manager Tommy Conroy, a member of the winning team of 1983, thinks that his players will keep their feet on the ground.
"I belive we are better, but I don't for a second believe that because we beat Crossmaglen, Ballina are going to roll over in front of us," he said.
"When you're on the go since last February, you really only think about the result. You'd like to play a more expansive game than we played, but we did not expect that against Crossmaglen, especially in Parnell Park, which is tight enough.
"The final will be a different game. We had been playing challenge matches which didn't go well and we had never been through a break (since winning the Leinster) like this before. Our game on Sunday, and winning the way we did was better than five or six challenge games."
Both semi-finals disappointed from a spectator's point of view on Sunday and Ballina Stephenites goalkeeper John Healy has called on the GAA to abolish the club championship's traditional Christmas break.
Both Ballina and Portlaoise had to endure a ten-week wait between their provincial finals and last weekend's semi-finals and Healy believes that was a factor in the two games being of a lower standard than expected.
"The long lay-off didn't help at all. Preparing for a semi-final in February is very difficult because it's hard to sort out pitches and challenges matches against teams who are only starting to train.
"Because of that, as a game, it's definitely harder than any county or provincial final and maybe the GAA will look at ways around that for the years to come. Maybe there is some way to get the club competitions out of the way that bit earlier."
Tommy Lyons is nevertheless hopeful that their experience of playing in the '99 final (against Crossmaglen) will be of benefit.
"We have been down this road before and we'll be doing in all in our power to do what we didn't do the last time," he commented.
"The lads were pretty disappointed with the way the performed against Kilmurry, but all the hard work we have put in since Christmas has paid off.
"If you're to reach a final, that's the way you'd like winning by a point in a struggle, in a dog-fight and not playing very well. Anybody who would mark us up as title favourites now would need to re-assess things after Portlaoise's great win over Crossmaglen Rangers."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
