(JJ Hurley)
Ballygarvan will need to up their game on Sunday against Castlemartyr in Pairc Ui Rinn to advance to the McCarthy Group Insurance Junior A County Football Final.
Last year, the Carrigdhoun side fell at the semi final stage to Mayfield, with Ballygarvan not possibly playing to their own high standards.
As a dual side it puts pressure on players and team coach, Liam Sheehan, is well aware of those restrictions.
‘It has been a long season and the boys are well motivated for it, and they have had a few breaks over the year, so they have been rested at times, and they are ready to go again, he said.
Reaching the county’s Premier Junior A Football competition has been a long-term objective for the club, knocked back last year to Mayfield as they simply faded in a game where they had their chances.
Despite the obvious disappointments and the club’s ambitions, Liam said, ‘From our own point of view we are back to where we were last year, we’d like to go one step further but we are not looking past Sunday.’
As for their opponents Castlemartyr, Ballygarvan will be taking nothing for granted from the East Cork champions, who will have Cork hurler, Ciaran Joyce in their ranks.
Having defeated Carrigtwohill in the East Cork Final, Liam said, ‘They had a win in their own divisional final for the first time since 1992, a physical team, with a lot of big men around the middle, and they are going to pose a challenge to us no doubt.’
‘It is winter football now, it’s not the kind of the game you’d have in the summer, so we have to be ready for that and clued into it.
‘Yes, we are expecting a tough challenge, but we will be ready for it.’
Ballygarvan have had a relatively easy journey to the semi-final stage, as they easily progressed through their divisional championship, defeating Ballymartle in the semi-final and Carrigaline in the final
In the quarter-final encounter with Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels, poor shooting from the north Cork side in the first half maybe left Ballygarvan flattered on the scoreboard at full-time.
Ballygarvan during the season have found it difficult to get into their stride at times in the early stages of contests, and a repeat performance on Sunday could spell trouble.
While there is still no white smoke on the fitness of Cork U20 Kevin Lyons and Stephen Fenton, but Piaras and Ray O’ Halloran, along with Evan O’Connor will still provide plenty of firepower up front.
This contest has the makings of a top class game, as both sides will believe they have a 50/50 chances of advancing to the final.
The throw in for Sunday’s game is fixed for 3.15pm.
Ballygarvan must bring there A game to Sunday's semi-final to advance to the final
Comments