This article is from page 58 of the 2011-01-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 58 JPG
DARRAGH Kelly (below), the St. Flannan’s manager remained on a positive note heading into Wednesday’s quarter-final clash with Kerry’s Tralee C.B.S as we spoke with him after their last training session before the big game
After losing their first match of the campaign Colaiste na Sceilge they bounced back in their second group game to overcome Clonmel comfortably insuring them of the quarter-final spot. However, as they had lost their opening encounter they were runners-up of the group which resulted in them coming up against group winners Tralee C.B.S.
A worrying factor for Darragh and the team last week would have been the amount of dual players in the college playing hurling and football who also took part in the Harty Cup victory over St. Colman’s. There are nine players on both panels but luckily for them there are no major injuries as a result and St. Flannan’s will have a full strength squad for Wednesday’s game.
The Kerry side will be a strong one and a tough task lies ahead. They have reached many underage colleges finals in recent years and they also captured the O’Connor cup this year, the Kerry Colleges tournament, so the St. Flannan’s boys will have their work cut out for them going into the game.
Some of the St. Flannan’s squad will have had experience from playing last year and they hope that will help them through. They will be relying on players such as Jarlaith Colleran and Tony Kelly who are joint captains of the side along with Gearoid O’Connell, Eoin Enright and Cathal Doohan who impressed with a tally of 3-2 in their last outing.
Although they see themselves as underdogs for the occasion there is no fear from this team and they believe they have what it takes to overcome the Kerry side on Wednesday evening and progress to the semi-final stages of the competition.