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Monday, October 26, 2009
BETTER for sponsor extraordinaire Martin Donnelly that he attended the other inter-provincial football semi-final in Crossmaglen.
The paltry attendance of 350 at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night was symptomatic of the ills of a competition struggling to survive.
It means its future – and the Clareman’s involvement – will be up for debate after the final in London in a fortnight, when Munster defend their title against Joe Kernan’s Ulster.
Despite unfavourable weather and a lack of atmosphere this was still a competitive tie. And, therein lies the primary reason why the once mighty Railway Cups remain part of the GAA calendar in its 125th year – the enthusiasm of a majority of inter-county players in overcoming obstacles like the clash with club fixtures.
Connacht manager John O’Mahony highlighted another difficulty, with players availing of the ‘break’ to overcome injury problems.
"With no International Rules this year I thought we would have a few more players available to us,’’ he said. In contrast, manger Gerard O’Sullivan pointed out that Muster had three sessions and a match against UCC.
O’Mahony added: "it is frustrating, but I would have to say I was very pleased with the effort and commitment of the squad. There is a core of players who are always ‘willing’ and there is always the few that are unavailable as well. We are at each other’s throats all year, so from the point of view of the different counties coming together it is a good exercise. It’s a social exercise if nothing else.’’
O’Sullivan admitted to being ‘happy enough’ with the display from a team comprising six Cork players, four from Waterford, two each from Tipperary and Limerick and sole Kerry representative Padraig Reidy.
O’Sullivan said: "Every one of the players contacted wanted to play. It was unfortunate that at the moment the Kerry championship is on and it would be unfair to ask to them to get stuck into training again,’’ he stated.
"We were up six points at half time, and I felt if we did not give away easy frees we would hold out. But, we did give away the frees which brought them back into it.’’
That Munster interval advantage (1-9 to 1-3) came about mainly as a result of a dominant second quarter during which Cork forward Donncha O’Connor hit five points and late replacement Pa Ranahan from Limerick netted a tremendous goal.
While the visitors were slow to start, they went in front with an eighth minute goal from Sligo’s David Kelly after his penalty kick was saved by Paul Fitzgerald. This was the player who lost the opportunity of putting Kerry out of the championship in the qualifiers, but on this occasion he finished the ball to the net at the second attempt. Earlier, Paul Conroy was denied a Connacht goal by the upright and, before O’Connor brought Munster level in the 18th minute, Waterford players Gary Hurney and Liam O Lionnáin each wasted goal chances.
The second half was more closely contested, with Connacht substitutes James Glancy, Matthew Clancy (2) and Declan Meehan all pointing to reduce the deficit to a mere three with eight minutes remaining. However, after Clancy missed a scoreable free, Donncha O’Connor scored for Munster and they were able to hold on for a merited victory.
Gerard O’Sullivan says that while the Munster management would like to ‘extend’ their panel for the final, they owe a loyalty to the players who have given them a commitment. "We can only take 24 to London, but there might be room for one or two more.’’
Meanwhile, the Corkman is adamant that the competition has a future, commenting: "all they need to do is tweak the dates a small bit, maybe play the semi-final before the League and the final around the St Patrick’s weekend".
Scorers for Munster: D O’Connor 0-6 (0-1 free, 0-1 sideline); P Ranahan 1-0; C O’Neill 0-3 (0-1 free); G Hurney 0-2; P Kelly and L O Lionnain 0-1 each.
Scorers for Connacht: D Kelly 1-3 (0-2 frees); M Clancy 0-3 (0-2 frees); M Breheny, P Gardiner, D Meehan and J Glancy 0-1 each.
MUNSTER: P Fitzgerald (Tipperary); T O’Gorman (Waterford), J McCarthy (Limerick), P Reidy (Kerry); R Costigan (Tipperary), M Shields (Cork), P Ranahan (Limerick); A O’Connor (Cork), P Kelly (do); M O’Gorman (Waterford), D O’Connor (Cork), P Kerrigan (do); G Hurney (Waterford), C O’Neill (Cork), L O Lionnain (Waterford).
Subs: S Walsh (Waterford) for Kerrigan (50); G Quinlan (Clare) for Hurney (54); J Ryan (Limerick) for Kelly (58).
CONNACHT: D Clarke (Mayo); C Harrison (Sligo), N Maguire (Sligo), J McKeon (Leitrim); P Gardiner (Mayo, capt), D Blake (Galway), G Bradshaw (do); J Bergin (do), N Coleman (do); M Breheny (Sligo), B Moran (Mayo), P Conroy (Galway); S Kilbride (Roscommon), A O’Shea (Mayo), D Kelly (Sligo).
Subs: J Glancy (Leitrim) for Kilbride (35); M Clancy (Galway) for Breheny (40); D Meehan (Galway) for Bradshaw (46); S Davey (Sligo) for Conroy (57).
Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).
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