Battle-hardened Colum's take on Caheragh side

Rowa-Rowex Pharma SW Junior A football semi-final, St Colum’s v Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh, Saturday, September 17th, at 5.30pm in Bantry – Neighbours St Colum’s and Tadhg MacCárthaigh battle it out for the right to play Gabriel Rangers in this year’s junior A football final.

Both sides have been among the top teams in the division for the past decade and met in the final in 2013, with Mac Cárthaigh’s as reigning champions. 

Colum’s made history winning their first-ever SW junior A title after a replay by 1-9 to 0-7. They were most unlucky to lose the county final by two points, to Mitchelstown. 

While Colum’s will field almost the entire team that won the 2013 final, Mac Cártahigh’s show at least six changes in their side from the 2013 side.

On their way to this semi-final Colum’s have played five games. A draw against last year’s finalists, Kilmacabea, 0-14 to 1-11, was followed by a defeat in the replay, 0-13 to 0-12, despite a great comeback.

This sent them into the losers’ group, Round 2, where they registered a clearcut win, 3-15 to 0-7, with a fine second-half performance against Muintir Bháire. They then faced O’Donovan Rossa in Round 3 and recorded a comfortable 0-13 to 0-4 victory before accounting for Ballinascarthy last week in the quarter-final on a score of 1-13 to 0-7.

Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh’s had a much easier passage to this semi-final. They did struggle to beat St. James in the first round, 1-9 to 0-9 and then got a bye into the quarter-final where they overwhelmed Barryroe a few weeks ago by 3-19 to 1-6, after a long delay from Round 1. 

Verdict – Colum’s will try to nullify the threat from the three O’Driscoll’s down the centre, easier said than done, and there should be some tremendous duels around the pitch. Colum’s have come through a much tougher campaign and are battle-hardened in both football and hurling. If Alan O’Connor can gain control of the midfield sector, then the Kealkil men must be fancied to advance to a meeting with Gabriel Rangers.