Finuge seeking All-Ireland semi-final win

Finuge seeking All-Ireland semi-final win

Former All-Ireland Junior Club Football champions Finuge will be hoping to book a place in another All-Ireland final when they face Mayo side Kiltane in the semi-final of Ceist GAA le Hector this Wednesday night on TG4 at 8.30pm.

The North Kerry side can call on plenty of experience All-Ireland winner Eamonn Fitzmaurice in their ranks, along with local Primary School Principal John MacAuliffe.

The side are captained by TG4 GAA Beo presenter Michael Ó Domhnall.

Finuge have beaten Round Towers Clondalkin (1-17 to 1-16) and Clan na nGael, Armagh (1-17 to 0-16) to advance to this weeks semi-final.

“It’s certainly a different challenge for me, but I enjoyed the first two days, ” Fitzmaurice said.

“We are still there, but I suppose you are depending on the last round. If you are fast on the buzzers you have a chance.

“If you are slow, or wrong you could lose the game. I think Ceist GAA is a brilliant programme. There was a gap for a programme like it and I think it is doing very well around the country now.”

Fitzmaurice’s team-mate John is also looking forward to the semi-final clash.

“As in all competitions you need a bit of luck”, John said.

“The format of Ceist GAA le Hector is such that there will be no real walkover.

“In the first round against Round Towers we needed to get through a tie breaker, while against Clan na nGael we were behind and we came back to win it, so I hope the same thing will happen in the semi-final – maybe with a bit of luck we will shade it.”

Kiltane are represented by TCD Law Student Sean Gaughan and primary school teacher Noreen Gaughan and are captained by RTE’s Evanne Ní Chuilinn.

The clubs are just one step away from the final, which will be against either Oileann Arainn from Galway or Donegal outfit Na Rossa, to battle it out for a Training weekend at the renowned Carton House in Maynooth, Co. Kildare under the watchful eye of former Meath and International Rules manager Sean Boylan.

The Mayo club have beaten Cratloe of Clare (1-21 to 1-15) and Geevagh of Sligo (0-22 to 1-16) to advance to this stage of the competition.

Sean, who was part of the TCD side that took Higher Education Senior Football League Division 2 honours last week thanks to an extra-time victory over IT Blanchardstown is hoping to continue winning ways at TG4’s Baile na hAbhann studios.

“ Hopefully we won’t have to go to extra-time this Wednesday,” he said.

“I’m a bit wary of this Wednesday though. Any time a team from Mayo meets a team from Kerry in a semi-final, as Mayo know to their cost this year it’s going to be a tough battle and we know we are going to be up against it, but we are hopeful.

“We are definitely seeking revenge now. After Croke Park in August there was a lot of hope – maybe more hope than expectation in Mayo this year, and ultimately Kerry just showed their class and upped their game.

“Hopefully now revenge will be sweet on Wednesday!”

The second semi-final between Galway side Óileann Árainn and Donegal club Na Rossa will be broadcast on Wednesday December 14th at 8.30pm on TG4, with the final on Wednesday December 21st also with an 8.30pm throw-in on TG4.

The programme is in its second series and has the official endorsement of the GAA and is broadcast every Wednesday night at 8.30pm with a repeat showing on Sunday evenings.

16 clubs set out on the road to Ceist GAA honours in 2011, with Mayo, Clare, Sligo, Galway, Tipperary, Kerry, Dublin, Armagh, Wicklow, Galway, Down, Waterford, Donegal and Cork represented.