Clonoe And Derrylaughan Might Be Closer Than Most Think.

Thursday 06.10.2011

Club

The nature of local derbies mean that such games are very hard to call and with a place in a county final at stake the game between Clonoe and Derrylaughan has even more riding on it. Granted there may be only two teams playing and one of them is the raging hot favourite but this is championship football and nothing is guaranteed in such cases. Looking at the difference between them in terms of league position and recent form it is easy to understand why The O’Rahillys are fancied by many to progress.
The well known old saying that in life there are only two certainties, death and taxes will surely apply to this game in spite of what some people may see as a sure thing. Clonoe showed in their last game just how well organised and fit they are. They are playing very well together and although they have some very talented individuals such as Stephen Mc Nulty, Colm Donnelly, Patrick Doris and Shane O’Hagan it is their displays as a team that make them such a force. They have a game plan which they stick to identifying where the opposition appears most dangerous and effectively deal with that. They have considerable pace up front and are pretty accurate from the dead ball which makes them difficult to beat.
The Kevin Barrys in their first season in senior could be forgiven for seeing this game as bonus territory considering they have succeeded in staying in Division One for this year but will quietly fancy their chances of winning. They know they are complete underdogs but that won’t worry them unduly. With the Gervin brothers in good form and Shea Coney’s accuracy from placed balls they will feel well capable of springing a surprise. And what a surprise it would be but although they might well run Clonoe close the smart money will still be on Damien Cassidy’s side to make the 2011 County final.