Learning from close encounters
PJ O’Mullan is the manager of the 2012 champions, Loughgiel Shamrocks, beaten after a replay by St Thomas’s (Galway), while Seamus manages Thurles Sars, turned over by Kilcormac/Killoughey (Offaly).
First to O’Mullan, and his take on St Thomas’s. “They’re a very young side, very fresh, very keen, very committed — I think we ran out of legs eventually against them. They’re also a very tight-knit team but that would be because they come from such a small community. You have all the family links, the six Burke brothers, the cousins — they’re a team that will die for each other. They have a tremendous work-rate right throughout the field.”
Midfield and attack are especially strong, he reckons. “Two excellent midfielders, David Burke and James Regan, both of whom played for Galway last year in the All-Ireland final — that shows their quality. They have a few exceptional forwards and against us, on both days, Conor Cooney and Bernard Burke were outstanding, we just couldn’t get to grips with them at all.”
Defence though, and the full-back line especially, is where PJ thinks they’re vulnerable. “We got a couple of goals in the drawn game and our game-plan the second day was to have a real go at them from the start; we felt that if we could get at that full-back line a bit more we could do damage. We did and in the first 15 minutes we opened them up on two or three occasions. If we had got those scores, who knows what would have happened? If Kilcormac/Killoughey get those chances — and they have the forwards to do it — Thomas’s could be in trouble.”
To Quinn then, and Kilcormac/Killoughey. Strengths? “They’re very physically strong down the centre. They’re very united as a group, a great bond also with the supporters.!
“They’re a skilful side too, which you’d expect from the Offaly champions. And forget about the fact that this was their first county senior title — this team has all the qualities it takes to win an All-Ireland title.
“I was very impressed with their half-forward line, a big strong man in the centre, Conor Mahon, very good at linking play and the two lads either side of him were excellent. Oh, don’t give away frees — their free-taker is deadly (Ciarán Slevin, 0-8 from frees and one 65 in their 1-20 to 1-14 win over Sars). Their defence and midfield are solid, good at closing down the space, made things very difficult for us up front.”
Weaknesses? “Their defence is tigerish enough but at the same time we did create chances we didn’t take. Croke Park is a bigger pitch, will favour the forwards. Daniel Currams though is going to be a huge loss (broken arm last Sunday). When we were doing our homework on them he was the one lad who really stood out, a match-winner at full-forward.
“He’s a goalscorer, a real eye for it, got 1-1 against us — to lose a guy of that stature would be a blow to any team. I know it can often galvanise a team but I don’t think Kilcormac/Killoughey need any galvanising, not the way they played against us. An added problem is that they don’t even have much time to try and blend someone new in to full-forward. Saying all that, they’re now underdogs again which will suit them again.”
So who will win? O’Mullan: “I have a soft spot for Offaly hurling, the results they get from the small numbers they have, would love to see them win another All-Ireland but I think St Thomas’s workrate might just see them over the line. Just looking forward to a good game and may the best team win.”
Quinn: “You have to factor in the pressure, an All-Ireland final, huge game — who can handle that better? Danny Owens has got the best out of Kilcormac/Killoughey so far, and being underdogs will suit them. I’m going for St Thomas’s though, marginally, given the loss of Currams.”
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