BRENDANS BOARD

Mike Moriarty

CONGRATULATIONS to Jack Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor who were part of the Kerry Senior Team who defeated Tyrone on Sunday in Killarney. Also to our hurlers who had a wonderful win up in Antrim. These were Eric Leen, Fionan Mackessy, David Griffin, Jordan Conway, Niall O’Mahony, Dan Goggin.

It was with deep regret and sadness that we learned of the death of our great friend and former player Diarmuid Lawlor of Kilmoyley. He was a teak tough defender in the 1950s and played in two county football finals.

RESULTS

Senior League

John Mitchels 1-9 Ardfert 0-8 Na Gaeil 0-11 Churchill 0-9

FIXTURES

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Senior League

Ballymac v Ardfert at noon in Ballymac St. Pats v Churchill at 2pm in Blennerville

Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne v St Francis College Rochestown (Cork)

THE victory over St Flannans in the Quarter-finals was far from vintage.

However, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice hopes that the tight nature of their win in Tournafulla will be of benefit to them in what promises to be a cast iron test from St Francis College Rochestown on Saturday.

“You would hope that a win like that develops character and spirit within the group both individually and collectively. That is the sort of challenge that is presented to you in the competition when you don’t win your group and thankfully, we came through it.

“However, you can’t keep relying on a ‘never say die’ spirit all the time and we need to improve and show a bit more than that for Rochestown who appear to be the pick of the Cork Schools this year,” he believes.

Fitzmaurice missed the quarter-final encounter due to the death of his father but assessed it on DVD he acknowledged that the ‘rub of the green’ did go their way with Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaíoch’s goal that saw them eke out a 1-5 to 1-3 victory.

A boost for the West Kerry school is the availability again of both Padraig Ó Cathalláin and Stefan Ó Conchúir after missing out on the win in Tournafulla through injury.

Although Fitzmaurice was not involved in the 2015 decider between the schools that needed a replay before Pobalscoil won the fourth of their Corn Uí Mhuirí four-in-a-row between 2012 and 2015, he is conscious of the history between the two schools.

“Those matches were two huge battles and Rochestown are a very proud school even though they are new enough to playing in the competition. We need to be at our best to get through this.”

The Cork school defeated Chriost Rí and Tralee CBS to secure their advancement to the quarter-finals as group winners before a controlled win over Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig to reach the last four.

Deividas Uosis, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh, Gearóid Ó Leidhinn, Cillian Ó Failbhe, Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh and Ó Beaglaoich have seen big days so far for their county and school, they will need to draw on those experiences to withstand a different challenge on Saturday.

Rochestown would love nothing more than to stop another potential Sem vs. Pobalscoil Final again like they did back in 2015. However, Pobalscoil might just shade a tight affair when it matters and keep the defence of the schools’ title going. Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne

Verdict: Michael O’Mahony

FIXTURES

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Super League

Spa V Currow, 8pm

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3

East Kerry U-21 Championship Quarter-finals

Cordal/Scartaglen V Dr. Crokes in Cordal at 12 noon

East Kerry Super leagues Round 1

all noon

Division 1A

Fossa V Glenflesk (2018 play-off no.1) Listry V Rathmore

Division 1B

Legion V Firies

Division 2

Gneeveguilla V Kenmare

NB:

The 2018 play-off games and Final game, In the event of these games ending in a draw extra time will apply. As for 2019 senior league a draw after 60mins in these games will count.