*PJ O’Connell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
O’CALLAGHANS MILLS manager PJ ‘Fingers’ O’Connell has admitted their second round tie with Inagh/Kilnamona is the game he’s been most looking forward to in the championship.
Although Group 3 has pitted them in two East Clare derbies against Broadford and Scariff, it is their upcoming fixture with Inagh/Kilnamona that has captivated the attention of the two-time All-Ireland winner.
Fingers told The Clare Echo, “Inagh/Kilnamona is the game I was most looking forward to in the group, we’ll see what we’re made of there because it is knockout now”.
A big change in attitude is required from the Mills, he maintained following their opening round defeat to Broadford on a score of 2-17 0-19.
He is also anxious to see a greater return on the scoreboard from their forward line. “They were getting scores at awful important times, when we were just getting back into it. Aidan Fawl was pulled for overcarrying for a goal and we needed it, that was a big game-changer that free out, he probably did overcarry but that was the difference really. Their full-back line was very good, an amount of ball went into our full-forward line and we got no return off it. Colm Cleary and Seán Cotter failed to score from play, I think Seán Boyce got a couple of points and that was our main line”.
O’Connell added, “We knew it was going to be tough, we got enough ball to win it but we came out second best in the full-forward line, the Broadford full-back line cleared out our full-forward line bar Seán Boyce, like Colm Cleary didn’t get a smell off Eoghan Gunning, it was a major factor, Seán Cotter didn’t get a smell either and our full-back line were up against it with their full forward line, that is where it was won and lost”.
Gunning is his nephew and lined out at corner back for Broadford, impressing on his championship debut. PJ admitted it was unusual to be going into battle against his family. “I met him before the game, I wanted him to play well but I wanted the Mills to win and he did play well”.
