Macroom seeking revenge over Saints

IN the opening round of the Corn Uí Mhuirí in October, St Brendan’s crushed champions DLS Macroom by 4-13 to 0-7 and few gave them any chance of figuring in the knock-out stages.

School principal Noel Dunne cited fatigue and a loss of all but three of the winning team for his side’s poor showing that day in Rathmore. However, Macroom have defied all the odds to make it back to the semi-final tomorrow against the same opposition in Knocknagree (2pm).

Macroom will obviously go into the game as underdogs, but can take great heart from their splendid turnaround in fortunes.

Victories over Intermediate School Killorglin, St Fachtna’s, Skibbereen and a surprise quarter-final win over Glanmire has set up tomorrow’s semi-final.

DLS certainly cannot afford to allow Jamie Doolan to dictate the play like he did four months ago. Operating at left corner forward, the Dr Crokes youngster contributed 1-8 and set up two further goals.

However the Sem are far from a one-man show.

They have scored 11 goals and 50 points from four games.

Macroom are physically bigger which should give them a slight advantage.

Defensively they are very strong and have good players in Ger Anglin, Mark Golden and Ger O’Riordan.

Because of their greater scoring power, Brendan’s get the vote.

The second semi-final between Tralee CBS and Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh at the same venue (3.30pm) is not as cut and dried as one would expect. CSN surprised Críost Rí in the quarter final.

However, they were almost totally reliant on Paul Honohan for scores. He was outstanding at full forward, scoring all his side’s eight points and creating the goal chances for Eoin Forde.

Tralee are boosted by the return of Barry John Walsh and Liam Kissane, a county minor last year, and will strengthen an already strong side that includes Bryan Costelloe, Stephen Browne (both Kerry minors), Paul Cullotty and Joe Scully.

CSN have excellent defenders in Michael Power and Ian Jones but it looks like an all-Kerry final is on the cards.