Vincent's on course to make amends
JFC FINAL PREVIEW
Some measure of just how difficult it is to win the JFC can be seen in the kind of travails the two protagonists in this year’s final – Clann na nGael and St Vincent’s – have endured in the competition down the years.
Despite spending many seasons in the grade, St Vincent’s (who claimed the SFC in 1955) have only ever won the junior title once in 2021, although a team from the area known as Ardcath also won the title in 1948.
Clann na nGael haven’t fared out much better. Granted, they are a much younger club (they were formed in 2002 when An Gaeltacht Rathcairn and Athboy joined forces) but they have also only won the title twice, in 2007 and 2019.
Both teams had short stays in the intermediate grade in recent times before dropping back down. Now one of them will be making the jump back up again – but who will it be? The evidence suggests that St Vincent’s will be that team. Just about.
The Ardcath side guided by manager Paul McManus, coach Dan St Ledger and selector John Sheridan, have had their share of difficulties to overcome along they way.
Encouragingly for them they have usually been able to find a way around the obstacles they have confronted along the way. Usually.
In their group games they defeated Syddan and Nobber but both ties were only won by a point, 2-12 to 2-11 and 3-11 to 0-19 respectively. More worrying for the Ardcath outfit is the reality they were soundly defeated by Slane, 1-6 to 2-10.
The grit, character and steel in the side in digging out those two narrow group victories was mirrored in their semi-final win over Ballinlough.
Trailing by a point with seconds remaining they somehow managed to manufacture a last-gasp equaliser in normal time scored by Ryan Hand. In extra-time the won pulling up, without conceding a score.
Yet they must wonder: how did they find themselves in such a situation, sailing so close to the edge? Because the fact they were nearly knocked out indicates a certain vulnerability Clann na nGael will seek to exploit.
St Vincent’s have in Michael McIvor one of the best young players in the county – but how fit is he? He bounced back remarkably from a bout of meningitis to be able to play against Ballinlough.
Not only that he helped himself to 3-6, ransacking the opposition defence almost at will. He’s likely to be even stronger for the final, closer to full fitness. That spells bad news for Clann na nGael.
Yet Niall McLoughlin’s side go into the decider with very formidable reasons for believing THEY can prevail. They are unbeaten for starters having accounted for St Brigid’s (1-13 to 0-14), Carnaross (2-15 to 1-16) while drawing with Moylagh (1-13 apiece).
They positively sparkled in a quarter-final encounter against Dunderry, winning 4-17 to 0-12. They also were outstanding in the opening half of their semi-final win over Slane. Their passing was crisp and purposeful, their running forceful and direct. It was a fine exhibition of power-packed, skillful football that must have pleased manager Niall McLoughlin and selectors Tony Kearney and Robbie Woods.
Yet Clann na nGael’s commanding 1-9 to 0-3 interval lead was whittled down to just four points in the second-half before the team in green and gold regained the initiative.
Clann na nGael have a tight group of talented, young players such as Eoin Griffin, Darragh O’Reilly, Eoin Kelleher and Ben Corkey to name just four. They will battle and work hard from start to finish. That’s a given. The have a strong bench too.
However, St Vincent’s, who are driven by a powerful desire to make up for last year’s final lost to Dunsany, have an experienced, capable hardened group of warriors who will surely feel this is their time – and they may well be right.