Tralee wary of bogey team

Tralee CBS continue their defence of Munster's senior football title, the Corn Ui Mhuiri, with a fascinating semi-final meeting with St Brendan's, Killarney on Sunday. Even with the home advantage, Tralee coach Eamon Walsh expects St Brendan's to be an extremely tough hurdle.

"They're probably our bogey team alright," he said, "and for some strange reason, they actually play better here than in Killarney."

St Brendan's Mhuiri honours, although it's been six years since they took the last one. They drew with Tralee twice before Christmas and then took the Kerry Colleges' title in a replay. Yet Walsh, who is joint coach with Liam Scully, is far from dismissing Tralee's chances.

"There's great incentive in the school to put two titles back-to-back. It is a very new squad, but it's definitely just as good as last year." In fact, Tralee have only five of last year's winning panel remaining, including forwards Declan Quill, Brian Dennehy and Mark O'Connor along with goalkeeper David Henebry.

With their hurlers already safely through to the Dr Harty Cup final, St Flannan's, Ennis start the next stage of their potential Munster double in the second semi-final with Intermediate School, Killorglin - All-Ireland winners in 1996. St Flannan's have yet to progress to an All-Ireland final.

In Leinster, the first of the senior football semi-finals takes place in Mullingar on Sunday when Moate Community School play St Mel's College, Longford. The second and most attractive semi-final, featuring All-Ireland champions Good Counsel of New Ross and St Patrick's of Navan, is rescheduled for Saturday week in Carlow.

The semi-final line-up for Leinster's senior hurling championships between holders St Kieran's, Kilkenny and Good Counsel, New Ross and Dublin Colleges against Kilkenny CBS will take place on March 5th.