Manogue out to steer Stephen’s to decider
The honour or leading Kilkenny next year will be especially prized with the county bidding for the fifth consecutive title, but that won’t be an issue until early next summer.
It’s certainly not part of Shamrocks manager Michael Fennelly agenda ahead of their game against O’Loughlin Gaels (3.30pm) and while Brian Cody would love to see a ‘Village’ captain in 2010, the man tasked with trying to steer James Stephens past Erin’s Own in the other semi-final (1.45) is unlikely to have given much thought to it either.
Richard Manogue is in his first year in charge of James Stephens. He had a long playing career, lining out at corner-forward in the 1996 final, moving down from senior in 2003 (a year before their last triumph) and just two weeks ago answered the call by togging out for a junior championship game against Bennettsbridge.
As league finalists they were given a bye to the quarter-final, where they defeated St Martin’s by seven points a fortnight ago. “We were pleased with the performance — and the appetite — but one swallow never made a summer. We’ll just have to keep trying to improve,” he said.
Interestingly, they didn’t contest the final of the league (against Shamrocks) because of a clash of fixtures. “The County Board in their wisdom fixed it the same days as a junior championship game, one at 2pm in Clara and the other in Callan at 5pm. Every club in Kilkenny will have an overlap of players and to put the two of them on the same day was a little bit unfair, I felt.”
Runners-up in last year’s county final, James Stephens defeated Erin’s Own in the league by a point and Manogue would love a repeat of that result.
“If we won by a point again I’d be happy,’’ he agreed. “Erin’s Own are a very competitive side. They won the intermediate championship last year and the only game they have lost this year was to ourselves.
“They had a number of draws in the league and drew with Fenians in the first round of the championship. They are not used to losing in the last two years. You cannot ignore that statistic.’’
Erin’s Own had just one player in the extended Kilkenny panel (Damien Fogarty), while James Stephens can call on Jackie Tyrrell and Eoin Larkin, in addition to former All-Ireland medal-winner Eoin McCormack and Brian Cody’s son Donncha, who lost his place in the squad because of injuries. Philly Larkin — now operating at full-back — is still active, while another Kilkenny stalwart, Brian McEvoy is battling an injury (and facing a late fitness test).
“While they are reasonably young, Jackie and Eoin have considerable experience and they are leaders on the field for us. But, we are not short of experience,’’ added Manogue.
Shamrocks boss Michael Fennelly is father of namesake Michael, the player who lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in Croke Park a month ago. Taking over from Maurice Aylward, who guided the club to three provincial wins and an All-Ireland title in 2007, Fennelly dismisses the view they are destined to meet the ‘Village’ in another county final.
“I’m not looking that far ahead,’’ he says, emphasising the respect he has for O’Loughlin Gaels (powered by county stars Brian Hogan and Martin Comerford). The holders had five players on the Kilkenny panel, Henry Shefflin — most notably, the only one to start in the final — Michael Fennelly and TJ Reid (who both came on), Cha Fitzpatrick and Eoin Reid. Qualifying by hammering Graigue Ball Cullen (5-21 to 2-15), Fennelly says there is still scope for further improvement. “I know we ran out easy winners, but our lads didn’t play to their full potential,’’ he said.
“Then again you don’t want to do that yet either. Hopefully they will do it on Sunday because O’Loughlins are going to be strong enough opposition for us.”
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