When Colm McManamon took over Burrishoole three years ago, it looked to be a forgone conclusion that he would be able to guide a talented, hard working, side back into the senior ranks in the near future. But it has not worked out that way for the men from McGovern Park in Newport. For the third time in as many years, he has guided his side to the final of the intermediate championship, and left them only 60 minutes from achieving their goal. But on Sunday they could not have asked for a harder side to get through at this grade than those who they will be facing in the green corner.
From Moclair to where?
Only three years ago, Charlestown were celebrating winning the senior championship for the third time in their history. They are the last team to win the title before the defending champions Ballintubber who are going for three in a row in a little over a week’s time. But 2011 was a year to forget for the men from the Sligo border as they tumbled through the senior championship trap door and landed in the intermediate championship. They showed their class in the group stages seeing off Achill, Islandeady and Cill Chomain with relative ease. In the quarter finals they brushed past neighbours Bohola Moy Davitts to book their place in the semi-final. But that is where their strong run took a sever wobble and forced for the call to go out for some veteran reinforcements for their replay against Kilmaine last weekend. Back into the fold came David ‘Ginger’ Tiernan who was introduced from the bench to steady the ship in a 1-15 to 2-6 win over the south Mayo outfit. Come Sunday’s final, if needed he will be sure to give his all on the field if called upon, as well as giving both his team-mates and their supporters an inspirational lift if needed during the game. However they may have to do without one of their main attacking threats, Richie Haran, who was forced to limp out of the semi-final action in the drawn game with an ankle injury and failed to make it back for the replay. But Charlestown do have plenty of experience with the likes of Tom Parsons, Enda Casey, Anthony Mulligan, Darragh McMeel, and David Cafferey all experienced campaigners, while Denis Harrington on the sideline is a canny operator and will be looking to guide his side back to senior status in his first year in charge of the side.
Will it be a happy twentieth anniversary?
As for the west Mayo men, they have had their own hectic journey to the final. They came out of a tight group, beating Killala on the first day, the losing to Kilmaine the next day out. That set up a do or die clash against Bonniconlon in the last group game and they put the foot down to see off the north Mayo men 1-11 to 0-4. The quarter final was a real local affair with Achill their opponents in Westport, and they squeezed through by a single point on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-13. In the semi-final a fortnight ago they looked very impressive dismantling a Parke side that had previously knocked out a fancied Hollymount-Carramore side.
The main man in the 1-11 to 0-7 win was Jason Doherty who put on a top class show for his club, only a week after tasting defeat with Mayo in the All Ireland senior final. It has been 20 years since Burrishoole last won the intermediate title and McManamon was a young man who lined out in midfield for Burrishoole and scored two points in a win over Achill. This Sunday it will fall to the likes of players Doherty, Liam O’Malley, Paraic Holmes, David Keane, Enda McManamon, and David Nevin to channel the sprit of 92 and take their lead from the likes of their manager and Tomás Grady, Neil Chambers, Kevin Horan, and John Pat Sheridan who all played their part in that win in 1992.
