Pearses can edge an epic contest
Hodson Bay Hotel Group Roscommon SFC semi-final: Boyle v Pádraig Pearses at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park on Saturday at 4.30 pm
This is one of the hardest games to predict that I have encountered in many years covering the championship. There is a strong case to be made for both sides, but Pearses will go into Saturday’s semi-final with the confidence of knowing they produced one of the best performances of the campaign when these teams met earlier.
That game in Strokestown ended in a six-point win for Pádraig Pearses, and on the night they produced a superb display of attacking football. Boyle struggled to cope, only finding a few late scores to give the final margin a more respectable look. I left that evening thinking Pearses were likely county champions.
Things have changed since, however. Pearses rode their luck before overcoming Michael Glaveys in the quarter-final, while Boyle have improved with every outing since that one in Strokestown. Against Oran in the quarter-final, and with Enda Smith back on board, they showed that they are getting back to something approaching their best.
Both teams have mixed the good with the bad this year. Pearses were superb against Roscommon Gaels, and particularly against Boyle, while they lost to Clann – albeit with nothing on the line – and as stated, needed some good fortune to get past Glaveys.
Against Boyle, Pearses moved the ball quickly from defence to attack, and their kick-passing was a joy to behold. Accurate balls were dropped in front of their attackers, who made the most of the opportunities.
The half-back line of Jack Nevin, Ronan Daly and Davy Murray has been magnificent and provides the platform for much of Pearses’ attacking play. Their defence, though, will have plenty to deal with against an impressive Boyle attack.
Declan Kenny and Conor Harley were at midfield against Glaveys and their battle with Niall O’Donnell and Roch Hanmore, or Enda Smith, could prove crucial.
The Pearses’ inside line of Eoin Colleran, Paul Carey and Jack Tumulty has been very effective this year and the Boyle full-back line will have a huge task on their hands on Saturday.
Apart from the Pearses game, Boyle played well against Clann na nGael and Roscommon Gaels without setting the world alight. Against Oran, however, they took their chances well and looked a much-improved outfit. Their ability to score goals is a major asset at this level.
Enda Smith’s return is a huge boost. He was in and out of the game against Oran but still made a number of important contributions, including setting up two goals. His performance and influence will be crucial on Saturday.
Boyle’s two wing-backs, Oisín Cregg and Tadgh McKenna, have been excellent, with the experienced McKenna enjoying one of his best seasons in a Boyle jersey.
Up front, Boyle have plenty of talent. Enda and Donie Smith, Cian McKeon, Daire Cregg and Cathal Feely would get on most club teams, but they will need to be at their best and, crucially, get enough quality ball to work with.
The reality is that Boyle have only played in fits and starts in the championship so far. They will need to fire on all cylinders if they are to overturn Pearses.
I was bullish about Pearses’ prospects until I saw them against Glaveys, and that performance will give Boyle plenty of hope. But I keep going back to that evening in Strokestown when Pearses played what was, for me, the best football I have seen in this championship.
Boyle have improved considerably since then, and I expect this semi-final to be much closer. But Pearses have shown that they possess the attacking quality to punish any defensive lapses, and I expect them to edge into the final.
Prediction: Pádraig Pearses.
St Brigid’s hold the aces
Hodson Bay Hotel Group Roscommon SFC semi-final: St Brigid’s v Strokestown at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park on Sunday at 3.30 pm
Football fans in the county probably don’t need me to remind them that it is 2017 since a team – St Brigid’s – retained the Fahey Cup. The Roscommon SFC is very hard to win, and it’s even harder to repeat the feat the following year.
St Brigid’s will be hoping to buck that trend this year. They face Strokestown on Sunday, and will go into the game as warm favourites to reach another final.
Strokestown, last year’s intermediate champions, go into this semi-final in the perfect position. They have done really well on their return to the senior championship, and while they are the rank outsiders against last year’s All-Ireland finalists, they have already shown that they can trouble St Brigid’s.
When the teams met earlier in the championship, Strokestown gave the champions a severe test before St Brigid’s edged home by a single point. That excellent performance will give Pearse McGinley’s men plenty of confidence and belief ahead of Sunday’s semi-final.
St Brigid’s, however, have been playing well and improving as the championship has progressed. They have had to play without stalwarts such as Eddie Nolan and Paul McGrath, who remain on the sidelines, and must now plan without full-back Seán Trundle, who sustained a serious leg injury in the quarter-final.
The return of Shane Cunnane is a major boost. Against Roscommon Gaels he showed glimpses of his ability with a solid display. St Brigid’s played some superb football in that game, particularly in the first half. Conor Carroll was finding his man with his kickouts, and once Brigid’s got the ball into the hands of Conor Hand, Bobby Nugent and Ben O’Carroll, it almost always ended in a score.
Ronan Stack is likely to start at full-back in the absence of Trundle. Shane Cunnane and Ruaidhrí Fallon are likely to form the Brigid’s midfield partnership, and it looks a formidable one.
Up front, Conor Hand was unmarkable at times against Roscommon Gaels, while Ben O’Carroll has been back to his best during this campaign.
Senan Kilbride remains an influential presence in the Brigid’s attack.
Strokestown will again be without the inspirational Davy Neary, while they will hope top scorer Shane McGinley is fit to line out after his recent injury.
The Strokestown midfield partnership of Colm Neary and Thomas Corcoran will have a huge role to play. Neary has been superb in the championship, while Corcoran is improving all the time since his return to the team.
Niall Curley, Timmy Gibbons, Colin Compton, Diarmuid McGann, Mikey Kavanagh and Kevin Finn have plenty of experience and have been through many a championship battle in recent years for ‘The Town’.
Anything other than a St Brigid’s win would be a surprise. That narrative will suit Strokestown down to the ground. They can go out, give it a lash and see what happens.
I expect Strokestown to make this a much closer contest than some might predict, but St Brigid’s have enough quality and experience to come through. They should win by four or five points.
Prediction: St Brigid’s.
