St Nicks and the Glen dovetailing nicely: 'the momentum across the whole club is fantastic'

However, the physicality of their quarter-final bout with Kinsale will set them up well

PHYSICAL: St Nicks will take on Cobh in a repeat of last year's semi-final. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Another Cork Premier JFC semi-final for St Nicks and a repeat encounter with Cobh, who the Blackpool boys narrowly overcame in last year's fiery penultimate round.

The meeting in a fortnight will no doubt be just as ferocious. Just as well the physicality of their quarter-final bout with Kinsale on Saturday in Shanbaly set them up well.

“This actually reminded me a small bit of our semi-final last season with Cobh. The ferocity of the tackles in that first half down in Carrigtwohill would have been very similar" said St Nicks coach Robert Brosnan.

"That game was the flip of a coin last year, we were lucky with a couple of two pointers coming down the stretch. There’s no illusions as to how hard that task is going to be."

They had to dig deep to pull off a second-half comeback against Kinsale in the quarter-finals on Saturday in Shanbally.

The northside outifit were eight points down at one point late into the first half before a Rob Downey goal lifted Nicks spirits. The old adage, a tale of two halves, has rarely been so appropriate. 

Nicks couldn't get a sniff in the first half but they dominated the second period.

Half-back Zach Lynch’s well taken score began a five-point run for Nicks that turned momentum ass over kettle.

Conor McCarthy pointed well from the right after leaving David O’Leary for dead, Jack O’Sullivan followed that with another accurate free 40 seconds later.

It was all Nicks at this stage in the contest, and two massive two-pointers from Eoin Downey and McCarthy put Nicks ahead for the first time - they never looked back.

Nicks substitute Danny Morris’ looping goal bound effort bizarrely went uncontested to meander its merry way to the Kinsale net.

A Rob Downey free and towering Dean Brosnan two-pointer followed for Nicks and that put them out of reach.

Brosnan was measured in both the praise and criticism of his side's performance. "Absolutely thrilled to be in a semi-final, especially after the way we started, as far down as we were and playing very poorly now I might add. 

"That’s as poor a 20 minutes of football as we’ve played since I’ve got involved, so to turn around and dig out a good win is great. Good teams win when they play badly, and that’s what we did. 

'Kinsale came with a game plan they executed it very well for probably 40 to 45 minutes but again I think it shows the character and resilience that we possess that there was no panic. 

"It’s easy when you go five points down to be like ‘it’s not our day’, but we ticked off the next few scores nice and calm and then we struck for a goal and a couple of good two pointers then as well."

The value of Robert Downey's first-half net buster was not lost on Brosnan either.

"Robert’s goal was vital. Kinsale hit everything that moved there for 25 minutes. The ferocity they were tackling with was hard for us to deal with and in fairness to Rob and Jack it was a very sharp short free to get him into position and boy did he finish it well. 

"That shows the leadership that he has to be able to pick that out and bring us right back into the contest at half time only four point down."

One of the crucial components of a team that goes far in any competition is squad depth. Luckily for Nicks, they are not wanting in that department, evidenced by the effect of their second-half subs.

Danny Morris entered the field of play early in the second half and scored the goal that essentially put Nicks out of reach. 

Dean Brosnan came on with 12 minutes to go and scored a two-pointer that put the cherry on top.

"It’s one of the big characteristics we had last year, we were able to bring on four or five consistently last year and again today bringing on Dean Brosnan, Ryan Long, Danny Morris, it just gives a fresh bit of impetus to the team. 

"We were sort of on the up before they came on anyway but they added that bit extra when they came on. It’s great to have that depth.”

With Nicks and Glen Rovers in the ascendency, there's a feel good factor about the northside contingent. Brosnan feels it too.

"The club as a whole has some real momentum now. When the Glen lost to Blackrock people were thinking ‘where are we going?’ but a great win in Kanturk has flipped things. The momentum across the whole club is fantastic and again hopefully we’re driving that on now. 

"It will be a tough game for the hurlers next week against Midleton but it’s great to be in these positions, it’s what we’re training for all year. You’re in the semi-finals as a county, where every one in top level sport wants to be. So there’s plenty to look forward to in the next couple of weeks."