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Seamus 0’Doherty

Drom s dangerman Seamus Callanan shoots for goal but this shot was saved by Kjllcnauk goalie Gerry Kennedy in the County SHC semhfinal. Photot tndget Ddonty

The relief that Drom/lnch and Loughmore/Castleiney felt by reaching the County finał was elear at fuli time in both of their semi-finals. The winners were thrilled to escape to victory, in two close finishes, where concentration was vital to survival. Having come through that ordeal - and it was much worse for the losers - they have been putting their thoughts into winning the Dan Breen Cup. From the twenty five teams which started, only these two remain. It is an appropriate way for the Mid Board to celebrate its Centenary. Loughmore/ Casdeiney were winners in 1988 while Drom/lnch. who used to have difficulty reaching county semi-finals have now played in the last three and reached the decider for only the second time in their history. Since their loss in 2005. they have gone some way towards regaining ground. They

won the divisional crown in 2006 and now have three such titles to their riva!s ten. Loughmore/    Castleiney

completed a three-in-a-row as recendy as 2004.

Patrons are finding the idea of two Mid teams playing for the Dan Breen cup a litde odd, when that Division’s champions, Thurles Sarsfields are not involved, but hoping to achieve further underage honours today. The Mid finał last month was a strange gamę. Sarsfields were well on top but only won by four points. The transladon now is that Loughmore/ Casdeiney had morę to offer and took much comfort from that result, knowing that there was untapped ability within the squad.

A good win over JK Brackens got them moving again and it was no secret that the club fancied their chances morę against Nenagh, than they would if Sarsfields had remained in the race. Their win over the North men proved many things, notwithstanding Nenaghs gruelling Schedule between Minor and Senior fixtures in recent times. Nenagh s staleness and energy drought were obvious, following the landmark wins over Toomevara and Thurles Sarsfields. against whom they had failed to register a win in County Finals and semi-finals, going back to 1992. How much did those games take from Nenagh? Mentally and physically they would have drained them and a finał score of 0-13 offers the supporting evidence. It is a major comedown from a superb 4-17, in the previous round. There was also the Minor irritation to upset their preparations.

If there is any team that you need to be fresh before meeting, it is Loughmore/ Casdeiney.They proved their ability with a convincing win over the North champions, Borrislleigh in the previous round. Inspired by that achievement, they saw their chance and prepared well. The Mid men targeted the Nenagh dangermen and decided to answer critics. who considered them outsiders for the dtle. There was a real hunger about them and it went unmatched. Nenagh never controlled the gamę, as their Mid opponents competed for possession from start to finish. They defended determinedly but, if you look at their defensive line-up there isnt

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