Men’s Munster football finals take centre stage this week
Another good weekend just gone for Cork clubs, 2 Munster hurling titles won, while 2 more progressed to All-Ireland club finals in ladies football, with the Sars senior camogie team came up just short despite a brave effort.
This weekend 3 clubs are in AIB Munster football finals and of course the Teddy McCarthy tribute games in Páirc Uí Chaoimh are taking place.
AIB Munster Senior Football Final
Castlehaven v Dingle on Sunday in Gaelic Grounds Limerick at 2pm
It is no real surprise that given the history of this championship that once again Kerry and Cork clubs are contesting the final. In fact apart from the odd interruption, the title has always ended up in one of these counties, with Cork actually leading the way.
Dingle are appearing in their first ever final while it is 10 year since the ‘Haven contested the decider.
In the immediate aftermath of their win over Rathgormac in the semi-final, Castlehaven manager James McCarthy, while pleased with the win, urged a note of caution. “It’s great to be in the final but at times today we were sloppy and if we play like that in the final, we will be punished because that is what the better teams will do to you.”
James was also fulsome in his praise for their supporters. “Absolutely brilliant, it’s a long way from Union Hall to here (Dungarvan) but as always they get behind the team and that is something we as a team on and off the field really appreciate.”
As for Dingle, who qualified as the club champions as opposed to the county champions from Kerry, James said: “Well we were not concerned about anyone only Rathgormac up to today, but any team from Kerry are going to be tough opponents and they do have very good and experienced players. For now it’s recovery, access the few knocks and then get ready to give it our best shot and I can assure we will be ready.”
Dingle were impressive in beating a highly rated Clonmel Commercials side, who beat Nemo Rangers last year and in Thurles as well, so that is a clear indication that they will be tough opposition. They make no secret of their desire to win this championship, as Paul Geaney remarked after that game: “We might not get the chance again”.
The Geaneys are key to the Dingle side; Mikey, Niall, Dylan, Paul himself and Conor between them bagged 0-9 of their total of 0-13 in their semi-final win.
It’s far from a 5 man team though; add in Tom O’Sullivan who will probably pick up either Brian or Michal Hurley, Conor Flannery, Matthew Flaherty and Darragh O’Sullivan and it’s a strong well balanced outfit.
If the Geaneys are big players for Dingle, the Hurley brothers are so crucial to the ‘Haven’s cause. Michael had a quiet game against Cratloe but was bang on form in the semi-final as was Brian - 1-11 between them. You can be sure the Dingle defence will be primed to halt this duo, but that is not easily done.
Damien Cahalane is playing superb football right now marshalling the defence with all his expertise, Rory Maguire a big player also while Mark Collins’ work rate is a key ingredient for the Cork champions, with Cathal Maguire, Ronan Walsh, Thomas O’Mahony along with Jack and Conor Cahalane all making important contributions.
One other aspect; could Mark O’Connor return from Australia to play in this game, if he does he would be some addition to the Dingle side.
It has the makings of a cracking encounter, quality players on both sides, Dingle might start as slight favourites, but a nod to Castlehaven to shade a thriller.
The match is free to air on C103.
AIB Munster Junior Football Final
Kilmurry v Listowel Emmett’s in Mallow on Saturday at 1.30pm
Can Kilmurry emulate St Catherine’s who put their county final loss behind them to end up as Munster champions? Certainly the manner in which they have performed in this championship to date would suggest they are in with a great chance of doing just that.
They got back on the horse with a good win in the QF and then had a facile victory over Feenagh-Kimeedy in the semi-final, and judging by the way the latter played in the hurling final last Saturday, it’s easy to see where their priorities lay.
That though was outside Kilmurry’s control. They went about their business with determination and are back in a Munster final for the 2nd year in a row, but this time, they won’t have to face the Clifford brothers.
Cormac Linehan, the Kilmurry manager acknowledged as much after the semi-final. “It was all too easy and the game was won very early on, but we just had to keep going and we also got game time into a lot of players, but we know the final is going to be another step up in quality and we will go away and prepare as best we can and hopefully go one step further then we did last year.”
Listowel Emmett’s were impressive 5-17 to 2-2 winners over Killimer from Clare in their semi-final, 11 different scorers, with David Keane, JJ Grimes, Adam O’Rourke, Dara Lynch and Cormac Mulvihill among the players who made it a long day for the Clare champions. With former Kerry star Marc Ó Se guiding Listowel’s fortunes, they will be determined to maintain Kerry’s dominance of this championship.
There is a lot to admire about Kilmurry’s play and in Liam Wall, Gearoid O’Mahony, Lawerence Aisling, Sean Warren, Rory Duggan, Brian Hinchion, Padraig Brehanu and William Ronan, they have excellent players who have shown great resilience to reach this final on the back of losing to the ‘Barr’s to a last minute goal.
As their manager said, this will be a step up in quality, can they go the distance this year? If they absorb the lessons from last year’s final, they are well capable of breaking Kerry’s grip on this competition.
The match is live on C103.
AIB Munster Intermediate Football Final
Cill Na Martra v Mungret St Pauls in Mallow on Sunday at 1.30pm
Having enjoyed the comforts of their splendid home venue, Cill Na Martra make the trip to Mallow buoyed by their excellent semi-final win over a fancied Milltown-Castlemaine side who had knocked Fossa and the Cliffords out of the Kerry championship in a splendid final.
John Evans, the Kerryman in charge of the Cork champions always knew they were capable of winning the semi-final. “I was confident if we played to our ability that we had the players to win and that’s how it worked out. It was a tough game but delighted to get the job done against a good team.”
Did the fact that the final was only a week before the Munster semi-final come into play? “Maybe it did, maybe not, but that was outside our control. They had a bit of momentum, but we countered that and responded well when they took the lead, and I thought we deserved to win.”
Mungret St Pauls will provide the opposition on Sunday and John says their approach will not change. “No it won’t, it’s a final, Mungret are there on merit and we will give them the respect they deserve, and we will prepare for this game just as diligently as we did for the semi-final to do otherwise could be our undoing.”
The reality though is that Cill Na Martra will be odds on favourites to win a title that has not found a home in Cork since Clyda Rovers were winners back in 2013, 10 years ago and in that period Kerry clubs have taken the honours.
Mungret were easy winners 1-9 to 0-2 over Roanmore, and that scoreline would indicate it was game that will not linger long in the memory.
For all that, the Limerick champions got the job done and had in Jack McCarthy, Shane Barry, Brian Barry, Eoin Ryan, Diarmuid Hayes and Darragh Bridgeman very good players.
They were also without their captain John Hutton - small matter of a honeymoon - but he should be back for this game.
Cill Na Martra have a wealth of experience in their team but they will be without their captain Gearoid Ó Goillidhe as he was sent-off in the feisty semi-final.
Michael Deasuna made an impact when introduced for the second half and with Sean Ó Foirreidh, Tadgh Ó Corcora, Damien Ó hUrdail along with Maidhci Ó Duinin, Fionnbarra Ó hEalaithe and Colm Mac Lochiann adding depth to their squad as was shown in the semi-final, they look well equipped and better balanced to land a coveted Munster title.
Double header in Páirc Uí Chaoimh
The pre-season inter-county competitions are slated for early in January but on Saturday the Park will host two matches in the Teddy McCarthy Tribute Games. Fittingly the two counties that were beaten in 1990 as Cork and Teddy claimed a historic double will be on Leeside to honour a man, whose sudden and untimely passing at such a young age early in the summer shocked us all.
In football at 3pm it’s Cork v Meath and then at 5pm in hurling, Cork will play Galway.
The winning Cork teams of 1990 will be introduced during half-time in the respective games, while in the mini-games Sars, Glanmire, Passage and 1st years from the North Mon will also be playing.
During the day, a number of events paying tribute to Teddy will take place in the stadium and it has the makings of a very special day. Specially commissioned trophies will also be presented to the winning teams.Tickets are on sale online and all proceeds raised will go to the Teddy McCarthy Memorial Fund.
It has the makings of a very special, if somewhat sad day, so let’s hope it gets the support it deserves and all involved in its promotion are to be commended for their efforts.Acknowledgement also to Henry Shefflin and Colm O’Rourke for bringing their teams to Cork a short few weeks before Christmas is a measure of respect that everyone had for Teddy.