Newcomers set to make final impact

EIGHTEEN months ago both Pierce O’Neill and Kieran Donaghy were two unknowns in terms of inter-county football.

Enter the TV programme The Underdogs, and under the management of Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and Jarleth Burns, both were picked from obscurity and onto a team which defeated Kerry under lights in Tralee.

Their incredible rise to prominence didn’t end there. Donaghy nailed down a starting spot for The Kingdom during the League while O’Neill makes his championship debut for Cork in Sunday’s Munster Final in Killarney.

“I’m not surprised both players have made such huge progress”, said O’Sullivan.

“They are two fine young men who got the chance and took it. It will be very interesting to see how they perform in their first Munster final on Sunday.”

Looking at the composition of the Cork team which defeated Limerick in the semi-final, O’Sullivan, the Shannonsiders coach that day, feels Cork have made far too many changes for the decider.

“The Cork team we played wasn’t as bad as they showed that day. Give Limerick some credit. We defended superbly and didn’t concede a goal.

“The newcomers are not quite new. They played in several of the league games, with the exception of O’Neill, but they have obviously been showing very good form lately and no one knows that better than those in charge of the team.

“However, if you look back at the history of Munster football finals, newcomers rarely have had an impact. It’s such a dramatic and intense game that only an exceptional newcomer will make an impact.

“It’s very easy to be on the fence and pontificating about who should and should not be on a team. No-one knows more about his players than the coach and Billy Morgan hasn’t made the changes he has, lightly. I’m quite certain a lot of thought has gone into picking that Cork team.

“Likewise with the Kerry side. Paul O’Connor is making his first final appearance and it’s going to be a huge occasion for him also.

“Jack O’Connor had asked me about him as he’s from my own club in Kenmare and I told him he has the perfect temperament for the big occasion and has great confidence in his own ability. It is a huge occasion for him and the others and it remains to be seen if they can live up to the expectations of their respective mentors and followers.”

Sunday’s final is a massive occasion also for the Aghada club in East Cork with two of their players starting for Cork — Kieran O’Connor at corner back and O’Neill at centre forward.

Aghada coach Declan Devoy said it’s a huge boost for his team and club. “They are very level headed young men and I would have no fear of them on Sunday. They both have the temperament for the big occasion and they won’t let Cork down.”

Both the Shamrocks and Ballygarvan clubs will be out in force for Sunday’s final as they are represented on the starting 15 for Cork. Michael Prout (Shamrocks) and Ballygarvan’s Ger Spillane were members of last year’s All-Ireland junior winning team and bid for more silverware in Sunday’s trip to Fitzgerald Stadium.