Sylane keep low profile for big clash with Wexford rivals
LISTENING to Sylane manager Walter Burke this week, he gives the impression that the gear will only be gathered up the night before and after that it will be a case of seeing who turns up in Parnell Park for their All-Ireland junior club semi-final against St. Mogue’s of Wexford on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Word on the ground, however, is that Sylane have been putting in a big effort for this one – returning to training two weeks after their county junior ‘A’ title win over Tommy Larkins in November – while they even have had respected Clare coach Fergie O’Loughlin take them for a training session.
However, if Burke’s brief two-minute interview is anything to go by, Sylane are certainly adopting a low-key approach going into this one with their team boss hoarding team news in much the same manner as which Scrooge tightly held onto his gold.
“Hard to know,” said Burke when asked how the team is fixed heading into Saturday’s All-Ireland junior club semi-final. “We are just meeting up tomorrow night (Wednesday). We just took it easy over the Christmas; that is basically it.”
Upon further pressing, he did concede, as always at this time of year, the bad weather had played its part in hampering preparations, particularly in securing pitches for field sessions and challenge matches.
He noted they do have a clean bill of health ahead of their tie against Wexford and Leinster champions, St. Mogue’s of Fethard, a team he said he knew “absolutely nothing” about.
“Just that they are the far side of the country for us,” he continued. “We are just looking after our own panel of players; that’s basically it. Sure, look it, we will just give it our best shot and see what happens.”
So far in this campaign, which has already yielded County Junior 1, Junior ‘A’ and Connacht Junior titles, Sylane have been impressive. Victories over the junior teams of Turloughmore, Sarsfields, Athenry, St. Thomas’ and Craughwell caught the eye of many on route to the Junior ‘A’ final, where they enjoyed a comprehensive win over Tommy Larkins.
Full preview in this week's Connacht Tribune.