Cork v Kerry in 3 Munster finals
What a way to start the month of December with 3 AIB Munster Club Football Finals and all involving old rivals from across the county bounds! All 3 are live on C103.
There’s also some interesting games in the county under 21 hurling championship as the season gets ever closer to its conclusion.
AIB Munster Senior Final
St Finbarr’s v Dingle on Sunday at Thurles at 1.30pm
“The club is a great position right now, the camogie girls are in an All-Ireland Final and now on Sunday we have a Munster Final to look forward to.” ‘Barrs defender Alan O’Connor speaking ahead of the meeting with Dingle.
It may be billed as a Cork v Kerry tussle, but Alan’s view is different. “People say that but for me and the group, it’s about ourselves in a club final and that has been our approach to all our games this season.”
The depth in the squad is crucial, “We have seen that in all our games to date; it’s not about the 15 that start. We know if a guy is having a tough hour we have someone ready to come in and do a job.”
This was very evident in the win over Clonmel. “A couple of lads came on and did the job and when you get to this part of the season, you need that.”
As for Dingle: “We know that they are a quality side, have been down this road before, as have we, but we are happy with our preparation and looking forward to and hopefully winning on Sunday.”
Jimmy Barry Murphy is a ‘Barr’s selector and while respecting Dingle he is confident that they can get the job done. “I have great belief in these lads; they have shown all year what it means to them and the club and I know they will be ready for Sunday.”
The two week run in has helped. “You know if you have a few knocks they need time to clear up and that is the case with Dylan (Quinn) he missed the Éire Óg game but he’s back now.”
Having played against Kerry clubs often enough, Jimmy is well aware what they are facing. “We know that they are a very good side with a lot of big players but we have our own big players and we are ready for whatever Sunday brings.”
With the likelihood that Mark O’Connor will play, Jimmy had this to say. “I like to see all players playing for their club and if he is, it’s just a matter of getting on with it.”
O’Connor is key for Dingle and the expected midfield battle with Ian Maguire and the very much in-form Brian Hayes could shape this contest.
Dingle’s semi-final win over Mungret St Pauls was a one-sided affair, in a way so was the ‘Barr’s win in their semi-final so very little learned there.
The Geaneys, all four of them bagged 2-11 out of 2-15, so the lesson is to curtail their influence.
Tom O’Sullivan, Cathal Bambury and the O’Connors Brian and Billy will offer top quality support.
Steven Sherlock’s scoring prowess will be important and with Luke Hannigan, William Buckley, Billy Hennessey, Ethan Twomey, Darragh Newman and Sam Ryan all playing well, ‘Barrs enter this game in top form and if Hayes can deliver they will be hard to beat.
Both sides have been down this road before; Dingle lost out on a penalty shoot out to Castlehaven two years ago, while before that in 2021, the ‘Barr’s with a fair share players still involved beat Austin Stacks in Thurles.
Two very good teams on an excellent pitch should deliver a great game, with the ‘Barr’s to edge it.
AIB Munster Intermediate Final
Aghabullogue v An Gaelthacht on Saturday at Rathkeale at 4pm
“It wasn’t our best display but given the level of activity in both codes of recent weeks, we got over the line and that’s the important point.” Aghabulloge manager Ray Keane after their semi-final win over the Limerick champions 2 weeks ago.
It was a game they were well in control of for long periods but it needed a crucial 2 pointer from the excellent Matthew Bradley to finally kill off a spirited Askeaton side.
The fact that they were hurling and winning the week before was a factor as Ray explains. “We won and rightly so celebrated but in fairness got back training on Wednesday and now we can plan for the final.”
Apart from a few lads playing under 21 and possibly a soccer match, they will get a 2 week run into the final, which is welcome. “God we won’t know what to do with ourselves next week with no match! Seriously though, it’s welcome because we face a huge task in the final against a very good Gaeltacht side.”
And with strong Kerry connections, Ray knows well the quality they are facing.
“It’s big as they are a very good side, probably should be senior but like everything else lost a few players and took awhile to recover, but they are back senior now and we all know how good the Kerry championship is, but we will give it our best shot.”
Gaeltacht had a tough semi-final in the end they got the better of a resilient Corofin from Clare by 1-13 to 0-11 to reach the final they last contested and won in 2017.
There’s a string of familiar names dotted around the Kerry champions, 15 many of whom have worn the green and gold at senior level.
Aodhna and Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tomas Ó Se, Gavin Ó Cinneide, PJ Mac Laimh and Eamonn Ó Conchuir have anchored the West Kerry’s club march to this final.
Agahbullogue have displayed incredible resilience in both codes all year and here they are now in early December preparing for a Munster final with Paul Ring, Luke Casey, Matthew Bradley, John Corkery, Colm Gillespie, David Thomspon and Padraig O’Sullivan big players for them.
In the semi-final they were wasteful in front of goal - that’s a luxury they cannot afford this time.
The odds favour An Gaeltacht and while Aghabullogue will test them you just feel that this might be a bridge too far in what has been a remarkable season.
AIB Munster Junior Final
Buttevant v Ballymacelligot on Saturday in Mallow at 1pm
The one thing that the Cork champions cannot complain about is the choice of venue, not there doing it must be said, but to be playing your first Munster Final a few miles from your home town is the stuff that dreams are made off.
It is also a venue they would be very familiar with and that will help, but you can be sure the Kerry lads will channel their perceived anger into an extra motivation.
That aside, it has the makings of an interesting encounter between two very good teams.
Buttevant were a bit disappointed with their semi-final display given the high standards they have set all year, but semi-finals are for winning and they had a tough encounter with Ahane.
Once again the attacking unit, 6 different scorers, delivered with Mark Lenehan, recovered from injury, 1-5 from play and the usual suspects Conor and David O’Hanlon, Kevin Sheehan, Ronan O’Donovan and Aaron Trimm all producing the goods.
The Kerry champions had things much their own way - eventually, in their 4-12 to 2-9 semi-final win over Clonmel Óg which was impressive and they will be determined to bring the title back to Kerry, after Kilmurry ended the Kingdom’s dominance of this grade last year.
Word from the off was that Ballymac would emerge from the Kerry champinship and they justified that tag with some impressive displays winning the title.
Donal Daly, Jack Joy, Aidan Breen, Dan O’Shea, Niall Collins, Tadgh Brick and Martin McKivergan are big players for them.
It’s a hard one to call but Buttevant have been impressive and consistent all season and that plus the big crowd at what is practically a home venue might get them over the line.
County under 21 hurling semi-finals
A very attractive double header is on the 4G in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon.
Midleton who comfortably saw off Ballincollig will be expected to have too much for Newcestown in the opener at 3pm. This is followed at 4.45pm by the meeting of Valley Rovers who were surprising but deserving winners over a highly-rated Glen Rovers side, and Shandrum who will fancy their chances of causing a surprise.
Colleges finals
In what is a welcome development, the 2 Cork colleges senior finals will be played on Friday night on the main pitch in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The Simcox Cup Football decider is at 6pm is a repeat of last week’s Corn Uí Mhuiri contest between Clonakilty Community College and Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig. Clon won that game and with a QF in the Corn Uí Mhuiri to come in January, will want to maintain that winning momentum.
At 8pm in hurling, the O’Callaghan Cup Final is a repeat of the recent Harty Cup clash of CBC v GC Mhuire North Mon. The latter won that game and are the holders of this prestigious cup.
Both will have been very disappointed with their Harty Cup exits and with a nice little bit of rivalry having built up between these two it should make for an interesting hour's hurling.
Munster football
With all that was going on with the proposed changes to the seedings, it is somewhat ironic that Cork and Kerry are now on the opposite sides of the draw and the possibility of a 1st Munster Final meeting since 2021 is a strong possibility.
Cork will play Limerick in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in a QF on 11 April, with Waterford or Tipperary awaiting the winners in the semi-final. Kerry and Clare meet in the other semi-final.
County championships draws
With just a few games in the under 21 hurling and football championships left to complete, the mammoth programme of games, by next Tuesday night clubs will know who they will be playing the 2026 county championships, as the draws will take place ahead of the County Convention at 6.30pm in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. How quickly time moves on!