One man who will have surely appreciated Hollymount-Carramore captain Darren Coen's sideline effort that he floated over the bar in their All Ireland semi-final win a fortnight ago is the man who is charged with plotting Coen's downfall in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon, Kerry legend Maurice Fitzgearld is in charge of the St Mary's from Cahirciveen and they stand in the way of Hollymount-Carramore's attempt to make history.
The man in charge of the Mayo boys looking to take down the hotly fancied Kerry outfit is Tom Connelly, and he has guided his charges on an adventure they will never forget through Mayo and Connacht glory so far. This time last year Hollymount-Carramore were picking up the pieces after coming up just short in the Mayo final the previous autumn, but they regrouped and came back stronger this year and aided in their championship preparations by playing in the top division of league football in Mayo.
This will be a challenge of a different sort for Connelly's men with Fitzgerald guiding the Kerry men on the sideline and current Kerry star Bryan Sheehan leading them on the field. They also boast five players, including Sheehan, who were part of the south Kerry side that claimed the Kerry senior championship just before Christmas.
But Hollymount-Carramore have had plenty of star men themselves this year, with Darren Coen playing the captain's part at full forward while Darren McHugh, Padraig Ferrick, and the ageless Ray Connolly have been rock solid at the back. In the middle of the park All Ireland winning minor captain from three years ago Stephen Coen will look to drive his side on in the engine room, while Kevin and Ian Costello and Kevin Ferrick are a fearsome half-forward line that pack plenty of punch.
It will not be an easy task for the Hollymount-Carramore club that was only formed five years ago, when both south Mayo sides amalgamated at adult level, and it will be some way to round off half a decade of football in this football mad south Mayo outpost.
