In a year of slaying dragons, Blues must hit new heights

By Kevin Egan

Tullamore’s 2024 campaign so far could best be described as one of slaying dragons. Retaining a county title, winning a game in Leinster, these were legacies of the past and targets that were important for Tullamore to hit so that they could truly turn their focus on where they’re going from here.

Tomorrow night’s contest in Parnell Park is very different. This is a chance to secure a place in the Leinster final at Croke Park, and to move into a completely different tier of clubs on a national level, and perhaps even into the All-Ireland conversation. Right now Kilcoo are the front runners with Dr Crokes, Pádraig Pearses, Errigal Ciarán, Cuala and Scotstown the other sides that are perceived as having a realistic chance of winning the big prize.

For Tullamore to overcome Cuala, the Blues’ much-vaunted defensive structure would have to withstand a level of pressure that they haven’t seen yet, while it would also require at least one and probably two of their younger forwards to really come of age with a vintage performance.

Fast transition play is an essential weapon in any team’s armory, but Naas ultimately relied on standout individual play up front to rack up a total of 1-14, which is the kind of number that Tullamore are likely to need on Saturday night.

Darragh Kirwan (0-5), Alex Beirne (1-3) and Paddy McDermott (0-3) are all Kildare intercounty forwards, and a look back at that really entertaining contest between the two sides in Newbridge would show that a lot of those scores were simply down to the talent of those players.

Traditionally, Tullamore’s fitness, their consistency and their lack of errors, and the fact that most of their players can score if they’re the ones that pop up with ball in hand 30 metres out from goal, is enough to carry them through the type of competition they meet in Offaly. Against Cuala, they’ll need much more than that.

In Declan Hogan, Tullamore are as well-prepared to handle the threat posed by Con O’Callaghan as any other club, just maybe with the exception of Kilcoo, who tog out the Tailteann Cup player of the year (Ryan McEvoy) at full-back. Even then, Hogan can hold his own in any company.

Expect John Furlong to switch out onto Niall O’Callaghan, while Aaron Leavy will also have a huge task on his hands up against Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, who many Dubs will now look to as the potential successor to Brian Fenton at midfield.

Ultimately, Tullamore’s ability to hold their own in the middle third is not in too much doubt. It’s closer to the Cuala goal where they’ll have to break new ground.

Fixture details - Saturday, November 23

AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship semi-finals

Home Instead Lakepoint Park (1.30pm) St Loman's Mullingar (Westmeath) v Ardee St Mary's (Louth), Barry Tiernan.

Parnell Park (7.15pm) Cuala (Dublin) v Tullamore (Offaly), Anthony Nolan.