Mounthawk manager 'couldn't get over' there being no linesmen for Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final

Mercy Mounthawk manager Aidan O’Shea is fully cognisant of the fact that keeping a cool head – on and off the field – will be paramount in Saturday’s all-Kerry Munster Colleges SFC (Corn Uí Mhuirí) decider against St Brendan’s Killarney at Lewis Road (12.0).

In the build-up to the clash of the defending champions, and the standard-bearers of the competition (24 titles for the ‘Sem), O’Shea put his hands up after his uncharacteristic dismissal from the line during the opening half of the semi-final cake-walk over Hamilton HS Bandon in Mallow.

“At half-time I told the boys that I had let myself down going onto the field. If the truth be known, I didn’t say anything out of the way. I was disappointed that there were no linesmen, and I got a repercussion for raising that point,” he said.

“It was a Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final, and the fact that there were no linesmen, I just couldn’t get over it. There was stuff going on off-the-ball, and obviously then I questioned a penalty decision with Tomás Kennedy, and a point from Paddy Lane that was disallowed, and that got me a second sanction.

“I used myself as an example in the dressing-room at half-time. I let myself down there, I told the boys not to do the same themselves in the second half. As it turned out, we got over it and the boys kept their composure well.”

With the semi-final their third game this season with a winning margin of 20 points (the others were by 12 and 17 respectively), O’Shea understands that, against a rapidly improving St Brendan’s, it will be a whole new scenario this weekend.

“There are so many other factors outside of the lads on the field. We have to go to Lewis Road, which is effectively their home ground. That’s where they play their O’Sullivan Cup games, they play their Frewen Cup games. I’m sure they’re going to be training there during the week,” he added.

“The fact we have to go to Killarney, there’s going to be a massive crowd. We’re fully accepting that we’re going to be outnumbered hugely, so that’s another little obstacle we have to get over.

“We’ll have to try and keep the crowd quiet if we can, because if the ‘Sem are getting goals and getting ahead of us, that’s going to bring a life of its own. The test the next day is going to be a totally different animal.”

Having lost eight of last year’s side that went all the way to the Hogan Cup Final, the Mercy Mounthawk boss has been delighted with the growing bond and camaraderie within this new group. The leadership of captain Lane, Kennedy, Daniel Kirby and Ben Murphy has also proven to be pivotal.

“Overall, we’re delighted with the effort the boys are putting in. Last year we had an unbelievable bond, because the sixth years last year and the fifth years were very close. Outside of football, they hung around with each other,” explained O’Shea.

“It was different this year. The sixth years and fifth years were a little separated, they wouldn’t be in the same circle of friends, but we worked hard on trying to create a good culture and a good environment, a place where the lads would enjoy coming in and get a camaraderie going.

“I think that’s hugely important, and it has gotten better and better as the weeks have gone on. Hopefully, we can grow it a bit more, and give ourselves a great chance on Saturday if we can bring that together.”

Click here to read article