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Irish Voice Sport

Gaelic Park Previews

August 23, 2007

By Eugene Kyne

Sun., Aug. 26 1 p.m. Sean Faherty Final Mayo vs. Cavan

THE first championship final of the year, it promises to be a terrific encounter.

Cavan are the defending champions and they are attempting to win their 12th crown as they have played in all 15 finals since the competition’s inception in 1992. This year’s squad is right up their in talent levels with the preceding ones and they have county standard players at a host of positions.

They had an easy win over Fermanagh in the semifinal as they look to add this title to the Annie Kearney Cup they won earlier in the season. Their defense is anchored by Mary Maguire and Alison Traynor at three and six. Aimee Gomez, Roisin Clarke, Emily Davis and Nicola Rogan will also be contending for starting slots at the back, although Ailish Doherty and Stephanie Tierney are absent with injuries.

Linda McKeon is a tremendous midfielder. When the going gets tough she slots in front of the back line and is the rock that many opponent attacks flounder upon.

The attack has three to four potential match winners. The management team is Dessie O’Reilly, Kieran Traynor and Frank Brady, all well known to the Gaelic Park fraternity as players and coaches.

What of Mayo? They are second in the record books with three Flaherty championships — 2001, ‘02 and ‘05. Their manager is Aidan Power, the Leitrim and New York player, with trainer Matt Mitchell a teammate of Power’s on both panels. The side qualified for the final courtesy of a two point win over Kerry/Donegal in a replay after 130 minutes of tremendous championship football.

In a repeat of the Annie Kearney final, this is a different Mayo team as they have added a number of summer sanctions and the gelling from the semi final will stand up for them.

It will be a close contest with both sides having chances for the win, but can’t see Cavan being denied the double with a three point win.

2:30 p.m.:

Michael Flannery SH Final NJ/ Kilkenny vs. Offaly

FOR the second year in a row the senior hurling final will be contested by Offaly and two time defending champion New Jersey/ Kilkenny. The combination squad is going for their third title in a row which has not been achieved since Galway in 1982-‘84. It marks a team as a dynasty when success of that magnitude is achieved.

Offaly have 13 overall titles but have not annexed the crown since 1945 at the end of the Second World War. While history can be learned from, it will have little bearing on this contest as the faces have changed even in the last 12 months as the new summer sanctions arrive into town and assist their respective teams.

New Jersey/Kilkenny is looking for there third title and they had another brilliant season as the top team in New York. With an undefeated year they have put together a new look squad with a host of quality players at their disposal.

Their manager is Peter Slattery, and he was very impressed with the season gone by in New York hurling circles. “We are very proud of the two in a row but know that it will take a monumental effort to win the third,” he told the Irish Voice.

“Roy Henley is back to his best, and Darragh McSweeney, Prendergast, Spillane and Culbert have all been at the top of their game this year. Offaly however have an outstanding team now that Connecticut State have joined with them and we know that we will have it all to do on Sunday.”

“We will have it all to do against the champions on Sunday and we are still waiting for a few of our players to perform at the level they are capable of,” said manager Mark Comerford.

“We will need that against Jersey. Iarlaith Tannion, who had great year in Ireland, will be coming out for the final and he knows the scene in New York. We will also have another player who will help the team.”

Sunday is charging down the line with a title up for grabs. Will Offaly add to their baker’s dozen and secure their first title in 62 years? Will the defending champs forever etch their name in folklore and join Offaly, Tipp, Clare, Cork and Galway as elusive three in a row winners?

It doubles up as a brilliant afternoon at the Mecca with the Ladies contest, with the Faithful finally securing number 14 in a high scoring contest, 1-23 to 3-15.

4 p.m.: SF A Sligo vs. Four Provinces

WITH the out of towners safely in the semis and Sligo out, this game will be for bragging rights and also to give managers a look at what might have been and what will be.

Four Provinces have a solid squad, with the center line of Patsy Moore, James Flaherty, Mike Higgins and Conor O’Donnell very impressive. They will want to take the points from this final league game to head for the playoffs on a high. Last time out they accounted for Donegal but were lax for long periods.

Sligo never reached the highs of last season and they only had one win over Derry and a narrow defeat to Kerry that were highlights. Tony Parsons is a brilliant player, while Paddy Feeney, Dan McCabe and Shane Moran all quite adept at this level.

Four Provinces to get the win with six to spare.

5:30 p.m.: John Brady JF A KO final Roscommon vs. Rangers ROSCOMMON return to the final for the second year with a wave of enthusiasm after their regular season run. (The 2006 champions were Astoria Gaels). They defeated Kerry in the quarterfinals and Tyrone in the semi to get here and will be ranked as the favorites.

They have a strong squad assembled with Shane Lennon and John Walsh an impressive midfielder pairing. Kenneth Dowling, Aidan Lonergan and Kieran Keaveney are all accomplished footballers.

Rangers won the John Joe McGovern KO in 2005, and have quietly set themselves up for a playoff run. They defeated St. Raymond’s in the semi final, and will look to Thomas Maher, Mike Bishop, Derek Courtney, Sean Twomey and Noel Murphy for guidance.

Roscommon to prevail and possible set up a run for the double.

Sat., Aug. 25

6:30 p.m.: John Joe McGovern

JF B KO final Cavan vs. FDNY

DUBLIN were the 2006 winners when they defeated Cavan in a thrilling final at Gaelic Park, and now Cavan follow Roscommon as a team returning with a title on their mind.

Cavan overcame the Dubs with two late goals in the semis, with FDNY defeating Fermanagh in a scoring fest that also included a late goal to get the win. Cavan will look to emulate their senior team that annexed the KO title in May, while this is the first final appearance for the Fire Department of New York. It promises to be history in the making.

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