Clann will need huge display to threaten fancied Brigid’s
By Eamon A. Donoghue
Clann na nGael will need to produce a display for the ages against championship favourites St Brigid’s in their Roscommon SFC semi-final in Woodmount on Sunday (throw-in 3pm).
This game brings together the biggest rivalry in Roscommon club football. The two clubs are neighbours in the south of the county, with Clann on top of the overall roll of honour for senior titles won and Brigid's in second place. Everything is set for a fierce clash that could bring out the best in each other and all that. But Clann would need to improve drastically to challenge one of the favourites for the Andy Merrigan Cup, not to mind the Fahey Cup.
Clann have had a stop start championship to date, topping their group on scoring difference. They lost to Pearses but dismantled St Faithleach's and put away St Dominic's with relative ease. They beat Elphin in the quarter-final, again with relative ease.
But this semi-final will be a huge step up. They will need a fully fit Ultan Harney playing at midfield and Ciaran Lennon on fire to get the scores. They will need so much to go right on the day. Match-ups need to be spot on and players like Patrick Gavin and Fergal Lennon in defence will be crucial. Dylan Sumner could partner Harney at midfield and they’ll need to get on top in that key area of the game.
St Brigid’s will attempt to play down expectations but they have much bigger aspirations than just a Roscommon championship in mind. They are slowly coming into form but all is not right yet. They came second in their group after losing to Michael Glaveys and that was a shock result.
The Kiltoom men did recover though and saw off Roscommon Gaels with ease in the quarter-final. Although they won comfortably, they aren’t firing on all cylinders yet. Could Clann bring the best out in them or could Clann shock them?
Clann have reached the semi-final without hitting any noticeable form that would mark them down as title contenders. The display against St Faithleach's was polished and impressive, but the Johnstown men would be expected to beat the Ballyleague outfit.
Can they improve enough to challenge St Brigid’s? Ultan Harney should be closer to full fitness and have a 60-minute shift in him. Pat Fallon's charges will need to keep their composure for the duration of the game and they will need to function well with their kickouts. They will also need to give Ciaran Lennon more support in the scoring department. The Johnstown men will need a lot of things going right for them on the day.
St Brigid’s, no matter how they want to paint it, are looking at challenging for the All-Ireland club title early next year. They seem to be holding back in the hope of peaking later on and maybe they will be able to see off their arch rivals without having hitting top form.
Ben O’Carroll is key for Brigid's and he was getting close to his best form in their quarter-final against Roscommon Gaels. O’Carroll scored 1-8 and scoring exploits like that can push his team to victory on Sunday.
The returning Brian Derwin, who missed last year’s quarter-final loss to Padraig Pearses, will strengthen their attack also. With several players on this year's Roscommon squad, including newly transferred goalkeeper Conor Carroll, they hold most of the aces.
The other sides involved this weekend, Pearses, St Faithleach's and Clann are all hitting a good deal of two-pointers but St Brigid’s haven’t found their range from outside the arc as often as would be expected. Maybe the new rules might not suit this slightly small, fast and skillful team. Maybe that Glaveys shock win wasn’t a one off; maybe Clann, driven on by the sight of the Brigid’s jersey, can produce a performance that could pull off a win, but the Kiltoom side deserve the nod overall.
Prediction: St Brigid’s.