Fossa to edge through at second attempt

21-10-2016

Of the three county final competitions played last weekend the County Junior Final would have had the least profile of the three but probably ended up being the most exciting with supporters from both sides on the edge of their seats through eighty minutes of heart stopping action.

The passion, skill level and never say die attitude of both sides was a credit to the players themselves and their management teams and we now look forward to a repeat of it on November 6^th.

When previewing any replay, and trying to determine the winner this time around, the most important factors to take in to the account are which team will learn the most from the original encounter, but more importantly, which team will improve the most from it.

Fossa, who were free scoring all year in their successful Division 4 league campaign and also through this competition, were quick out of the blocks again in the drawn game and after their second goal midway through the first half had given them a six point lead, it looked like they would go on to dominate the North Kerry side.  But Beale slowly but surely got to grips with the task at hand, and through their physicality, and no shortage of character, they restricted the Fossa side to a mere seven more scores before the end of normal time.

Fossa will once again look to midfielder Matthew Rennie, who was influential all through in the drawn game, to be the link from defence to attack but who is also well capable of popping up and taking his own score.  Full forward and captain Domhnaill O’Sullivan will also hope to get more involved  the next day and lead his charges from the front but most importantly Fossa will hope that they can get more of a return from the dynamic Paudie Clifford.  Clifford was well marshalled by Jeremy King in the drawn game, an indicator of the damage Beale realised he could do, but if he can escape those shackles a little more in the replay then Fossa will be in a lot stronger position. 

Beale started slowly in the drawn game but once they got to grips with the task, based on their greater championship experience, particularly their recent North Kerry Championship success which was noted by John Evans after the game, they looked like the more likely winners.  Ger O’Gorman was outstanding throughout and his accuracy from placed balls was a major asset.  You would imagine Fossa will have noted the large free count against them and he will not get as many opportunities the next day.  James McMahon, prior to going off injured, showed all his experience and Beale will hope that it was nothing too serious and he will continue to marshal his troops in the replay.  Jeremy King should continue his man marking job on Clifford considering the success of this switch.  And in Kerry minor Cormac Linnane, if they can get more and better ball to him, Beale may just have the man to kick them to victory this time around. 

Fossa expect to have Shane Malone, and possibly Colin Davidson, back from injury for the replay and these extra additions will no doubt strengthen their hand.   For Beale, as mentioned, James McMahon’s fitness will be key to them but the game time got by substitutes Ian Blake and Darragh Buckley, who kicked two great scores, in the drawn game should also strengthen their forward options in a big way.

As with the first game, this replay is a difficult one to call.  Beale’s game plan in the drawn game worked very well, and if they can tighten up and prevent the goal opportunities this time around, they should be very well placed.  However, if Fossa can reduce the free count against them, and in turn the influence of Ger O’Gorman, and get Paudie Clifford on the ball more, I take them to be lifting the Con Brosnan cup at the second attempt.