Intermediate final preview: St John’s vs St
Farnan’s
Few would have predicted today’s final
pairing at the outset of the Kennedy’s Intermediate Championship last August;
but here we are with either St John’s and St Farnan’s 60 minutes or so away
from a ticket to the Belfry Senior Championship.
Ten teams set out for glory at the start of
the campaign but only two remain, while contenders Shamrock Gaels and Geevagh -
favourites to win both of their semi-final ties - failed to get past the final
four.
In terms of our finalists, St Farnan’s
campaign has been highly impressive and while their progression to the final is
somewhat of a surprise, they are fully deserving of their crack at glory today.
St John’s advancement to the final is less
of a surprise given the fact that they had been a Senior club up until 2015.
The Carraroe-based side are full of pedigree, and have integrated the likes of
youngsters Brian McGowan and Paul McNamara into their squad in recent years to
further enhance their title credentials.
St Farnan’s have been the form team of this
year’s campaign and the men from the west are full value for their place in
today’s final. Advancing from their group thanks to a gritty defeat of
neighbours Easkey, they accounted for Bunninadden and Geevagh with relative
ease in the knockout stages and with such a swell of momentum behind them, few
would be surprised if St Farnan’s went all the way today. They have brought
through some talented minor sides in recent years and are now reaping the
rewards of their hard work at underage level.
This novel pairing is likely to lead to a
very interesting battle today. In the middle third, the experience of James
Murphy and David Rooney comes up against the exciting prospect that is Patrick
O’Connor, while St Farnan’s will aim to quell the influence of the highly
impressive St John’s playmaker Brian McGowan on the 40.
Alan Keane’s free-scoring from
corner-forward has been central to St John’s season, and St Farnan’s will have
to stifle his influence on proceedings to have a chance of clinching the title.
At the other end, James Hynes will aim to
carry St Farnan’s scoring threat while Finnian Cawley will be central to St
Farnan’s gameplan, wherever the adaptable former county minor plays this
afternoon.
St John’s have certainly tightened their
defence in recent weeks. Having conceded 1-14 to Enniscrone/Kilglass in their
first championship game, they have conceded 1-8, 0-9 and 0-8 in their last
three games against St Patrick’s, Castleconnor and Shamrock Gaels. Indeed, they
only conceded two points from play against Shamrock Gaels in their semi-final
win, and it will be interesting today to see if they can continue their
defensive efficiency.
The experience of Charlie Harrison could be
vital for St John’s in what promises to be a close encounter, with Harrison
hoping to help his side to a first Intermediate title since 2001 - on that
occasion, manager Dara McGarty along his selectors Michael McNamara and Fergal
were to the fore for the Sligo town side. In trying to win this year’s title,
this is their fourth game against west Sligo opposition.
St Farnan’s won the 2007 instalment of the
competition, and will be hoping to bring only a second ever Intermediate
Championship back with them to west Sligo this evening. There could be a
hurling and football double on the cards for some St Farnan’s players, with Western
Gaels in the Senior Hurling decider.
St John’s are favourites and few would bat
an eyelid if they were to go all the way, but St Farnan’s are more than capable
of causing another upset.
Both teams have improved as the season has
progressed, so that should mean an exciting final is in store in the battle to
reach the top tier.
St John’s path to the final
IFC Group Three Round One: St John’s 2-17
Enniscrone/Kilglass 1-14
IFC Group Three Round Three: St John’s 3-12
St Patrick’s 1-8
IFC Quarter-final: St John’s 2-8
Castleconnor 0-9
IFC Semi-final: St John’s 0-11 Shamrock
Gaels 0-8
St Farnan’s path to the final
IFC Group Two Round Two: St Farnan’s 0-12
Easkey 0-8
IFC Group Two Round Three: Geevagh 1-12 St
Farnan’s 1-10
IFC Quarter-final: St Farnan’s 1-13
Bunninadden 2-6
IFC Semi-final: St Farnan’s 1-16 Geevagh
0-12