Sheridan believes Tyrrellspass can test vaunted Loman’s outfit

Following his side’s impressive victory over Tang in their Westmeath SF quarter-final, Tyrrellspass manager Ray Sheridan turned his attention to the daunting challenge that awaits against St Loman’s, Mullingar.

His experienced side, with Ger Egan now back in the fold, could give the Mullingar men something to think about next Saturday.

“St Loman’s have a strong squad, and players on the bench other clubs would love to have. It’s a challenge managing that for Paddy (Dowdall, St Loman’s manager). There was a comment they would beat the pick of the teams left in it, but that’s easier said than done. We’ll go out in the semi-final and we’ll give it whatever we have,” he vowed.

“In 2020, the boys were unlucky in the county final against St Loman’s (losing after extra-time). They gave a great account of themselves. All we can do is give everything we have: win, lose or draw, this group of players are great representatives of the club.”

Sheridan was expecting a real test from Tang, who led by three points at half-time, but faded in the second half.

“We knew coming here against Tang it was going to be tough. They are a very good side, with lots of quality players. In the first half we played some good football, but Tang punished us when they got the chances,” he said.

“They have the quality to do that and have been doing it all year. In the second half, we regrouped and played some very good football. We made a few mistakes for the goals.”

Sheridan realises it’s about finding your best form when the knock-out stages arrive.

“This year we’re trying to time our run a bit better. Last year we got to a semi-final and rattled The Downs: this year we wanted to get back to a semi-final and have a go at the juggernaut that is St Loman’s. We wanted to get a shot at them.”

The manner with which Tyrrellspass upped the ante in the second half impressed Sheridan, who is joined at the helm by former Westmeath star Michael Ennis.

“We had a bit of a breeze in the second half and as the cliché says, goals win games. The third goal went in and probably finished it. Denis Glennon, 39 years of age, buried one (goal): it’s great to see him around the square doing damage, as he always did.

“It’s about getting the performance at the right time. That is our best performance of the year by a long way. We lost last week to Coralstown/Kinnegad and I wasn’t actually too concerned. Getting out of the group was the goal: we had one eye on the knock-outs and we knew we’d be hard to beat when it came down to this stage. We’re hoping it will be the same against St Loman’s.”

Sheridan was especially pleased for the likes of Nigel Harte and Ger Egan, who were excellent, but stressed that the team are well balanced.

“Nigel is a great footballer, a quality player, and a great athlete. In the second half, he was brilliant; in the first half he was breaking lines as well, but I was very happy for him. Ger (Egan) was brilliant, always is for Tyrrellspass. He’s probably one of the best club players we have seen in a long time. But there were a lot of unsung heroes, like Stephen Quinn. Adam Neary was the star for Tang all year, but Stephen was outstanding. He was our best player last week against Kinnegad as well.

“Peter Clarke and Peter Pierson are playing very well for us also. The one thing I have tried to do is blood young lads and we have a lot of young, quality players, like Chris Daly, a county U20, who came on at wing-forward and was very lively. Cormac Monaghan at full-back is a real star for the future also.”

Pointing to the injury problems they have had this year, Sheridan expects his side to be close to full strength for the semi-final.

“Jamie Corcoran will be back; Val Sizychas is a huge loss, but he’ll return,” observed Sheridan.

“I’m expecting we will have a full panel to choose from. Dean McNicholas is a great footballer; he was a big loss against Kinnegad, but we have him when we want him, for the knock-out stages.”

“The influx of young players is vital for Tyrrellspass... these players are the future of the club and they are driving it on. There’s great experience from the likes of Denis Glennon and Ger Egan: when they talk, you listen. They know what it’s about. At half-time we had to correct a few things that went wrong and we implemented them as a group in the second half.”

“Not too many thought we’d come out of the group at the start of the year. We got a very good result against Killucan which pleased me. Caulry pipped us and they are a very good side. We were missing Nigel Harte that day, a big loss and for the last three games of the group we had no Ger Egan, and we were down the Glennons against St Loman’s,” added Sheridan.