St. Brigid's seniors fancied to achieve hat-trick of titles

Date Published: 04-Apr-2013

 STEPHEN GLENNON

IT’S the battle of the saints as Brigid’s of Loughrea and Fergal’s of Rathdowney go head to head in what has the potential to be a pulsating All-Ireland senior vocational schools final at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Saturday (1:30pm).

However, while holders St. Brigid’s, seeking a haty-trick of national titles, will be many people’s favourites, they will face a St. Fergal’s outfit that has proved to be in scintillating form, no more so than in the Laois’ side 3-19 to 2-15 semi-final victory over Coláiste Phobal of Roscrea.In addition, Martin Raftery’s charges have been hit with a major injury concern in the last week, with Cappataggle forward Jarlath Mannion sustaining an injury in his club’s U21 preliminary quarter-final defeat to Craughwell on Good Friday.

Mannion twisted his knee in that game and had to be stretchered off before being attended to by ambulance. He has undergone a scan since and while it is understood the injury may not be as serious as initially perceived, up to yesterday (Wednesday), he still had significant swelling around the knee.

No doubt, Mannion, who lined out at corner forward in Brigid’s Connacht final win over Athenry VS and subsequently at centre-half forward in their All-Ireland semi-final victory over Scoil Aireagail of Ballyhale, would be a huge loss.

“It is very unlikely [he will play],” says Raftery. “There is still a lot of the swelling on the knee and it remains to be seen if he will be mobile. We are hopeful – and he is hopeful himself – but it is very hard to know. It’s Wednesday morning at the moment and he wasn’t able to take part in today’s session.”

Although Mannion was well marshalled by Athenry VS’ Patrick Monaghan in the Connacht decider – only tallying a point – Mannion was far more influential in their 2-11 to 0-7 win over Scoil Aireagail, his second half goal effectively killing the game off.

“Jarlath would be one of our biggest scoring threats and we were hoping to utilise his speed in Thurles,” says Raftery, who also has an injury concern over midfielder Eanna Burke (dead leg) after a hectic weekend of club U21 and minor fixtures.

That said, Raftery and his selectors of David Burke and Niall Canavan do have options. Both Kilnadeema/Leitrim full-back Glen Costello, who missed the semi-final with a knee injury, and Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry’s Johnny Conroy (collarbone) have returned from injury while Liam Kelly (Kilnadeema/Leitrim) is another frontrunner for the vacant position.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.