Sheehy confident Annascaul can reach decider

ANNASCAUL coach Dan Sheehy is confident his side can reach the All-Ireland Club IFC final at their first attempt. But first they must overcome Galway champions, Moycullen at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick (2pm).

Explained the Kerry boss: “We are going into this semi-final off the back of a superb Munster campaign, and if we can repeat the form we displayed against Mallow in the provincial final, then we are in with a great chance.

“However Moycullen have a tremendous record. They have won 24 games on the trot, were playing senior football in Galway in 2006, are a very young side with a couple of inter-county players, and like ourselves; will be very keen to make it to the decider.

“Our ambition when we set out in early 2007 was to win our own county championship. We did that and anything after that was always going to be a bonus. But there is nothing like success to drive a team on to further glory. Against Mallow in the Munster final we played some great football, kept our nerve when the going got tough, and deserved our success.”

And how they celebrated!

Admitted Sheehy: “I never experienced the buzz around the locality after that win and I’ve been in Annascaul for over 31 years. We enjoyed the victory, celebrated it in style; wintered well, and are rearing to go since we went back to training a few weeks ago.

“We had our problems with a few players who picked up injuries, but all that has cleared up and we’ll have a full panel to pick from on Sunday.

“From reports, Moycullen will field a very young side. Most of their 2006 team has gone and they won’t have the same experience as we have, but I’ve always said, it’s all depends on how a team breaks traps on the day.

“Our game plan won’t vary much from the Munster final. Mallow came at us in waves when they had the wind in the second half, but we kept our cool; stuck to our task and came up trumps in the finish.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of very experienced players. Gene Farrell is probably our oldest but he is playing better than ever. Niall Sheehy was another who had a big game for us against Mallow. He kicked four excellent points, all from play and I will be expecting him to do well for us around the middle of the field.

“He and Emmet Kennedy have grown up together since national school and have developed a great understanding among themselves which has got us out of many a tight corner.

“One of our biggest plusses is that we are a footballing team. I won’t stand for any messing. We get on with the job in hand. Our game is all about work; everybody working for each other, using the open spaces. It has stood us in good stead up to now and I see no reason to change it.”