Usual suspects set to battle in senior football semi-finals
Rathgormack's Captain Willie Hahessy raise the Conway Cup high following his side's victory over Ballinacourty in the 2024 SFC Final. Photo: Sean Byrne
This is the obstacle that Gaultier struggle with. The current crop of players have lost four semi finals since 2020. Three of those were at the hands of Rathgormack while Abbeyside/Ballinacourty knocked them out last year. They underperformed in all four. David Power’s team lost their first two games but things are looking up with three wins in as many weeks. Gary Cullinane’s return has taken the pressure off Mark Fitzgerald at midfield. He won vital kickouts against Clashmore/Kinsalebeg and goaled against Roanmore. Dessie Hutchinson (3-13 so far), JJ Hutchinson (0-19) and Patrick Fitzgerald (0-9) are looking more dangerous with each game. Eoin McSweeney starred with three points last weekend.
Will we see two stalwarts Thomas O’Gorman and JJ Hutchinson go head to head? James McGrath may shadow Dessie. The Nire have been hit by high profile injuries to Jamie and Tom Barron while Conor Gleeson also missed the win over Roanmore. Will three weeks be enough to get some of them off the treatment table?
Aaron Ryan has lit up the championship with 1-14. Déise defender Dermot Ryan also enjoyed his attacking role against Roanmore. Sean Walsh and Tholom Guiry could reunite at midfield to counteract Fitzgerald and Cullinane. This has the makings of a high scoring affair.
Gaultier to end their semi final hoodoo and make a first senior decider since 1996.
A repeat of last year’s county final. Three in a row chasing Rathgormack are undisputed number one. Kenny Hassett’s charges look in peak condition. They won their three group games by a total of 40 points and got better with each outing. Three orange flags went up against Kilrossanty after failing to raise one in the previous two games. They boast an array of ammunition. Stephen Curry is their top marksman with 13 points from play but twelve different players have contributed scores thus far. Conor Murray has supplied 1-6 but is equally as happy spraying kick passes to team mates. The twin towers of Tom and Peter along with Michael Curry have won every midfield battle. James Power solos forward with serious intent while his brother Billy can also go box to box despite all the back and forth from Dubai. Defensively speaking, the holders are yet to concede a goal.
Led by Michael Kiely, Ballinacourty turned a six point deficit into a five point win against Kilrossanty. The midfield pairing of Kiely and Conor Prunty will test the champions. Kiely has been Courty’s key man in this campaign. A ball winner, a ball carrier and scorer of 1-11 from play. His two pointer proved a massive moment last Sunday. Prunty marked his return with an assist for Neil Montgomery’s goal. Both missed out on the 2024 final. Benji Whelan has also changed his goalkeeper with the evergreen Stephen Enright on nets and county shot stopper Aaron Beresford on frees. Enright showed his worth with a one on one save from Alan Dunwoody.
Rathgormack’s superior attack to fire them into a seventh straight county final.
A derby game to decide who drops to premier intermediate for 2026. Clashmore have been struck down by injuries with Tadhg De Burca, Brian O’Halloran, Sam Fitzgerald and Aidan Trihy all sidelined. They could only call on 19 players against Gaultier. Midfielder Brian Lynch is doing everything in his power to keep them afloat.
His high fielding and point scoring inspire the rest of the team. An Rinn nearly secured survival in a controversial encounter with Ballinacourty.
If Donie Breathnach is available, they can escape another relegation battle.
