THE Live95fm Sponsored Limerick Senior Football final takes place this Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds, in what promises to be a high scoring, highly entertaining clash.Monaleen, the current county champions, take on Newcastlewest at GAA headquarters on the Ennis Road, with a 3.30 throw in time.
The path to the final could not have been more different for the finalists. Newcastlewest finished top of their group, with four wins and one draw from their five games. Scoring 69 points in the process.
Monaleen on the other hand, just managed to make it into the quarter final, thanks to results elsewhere. Monaleen finished third in their group, with two wins, two draws and a loss from their five encounters.
Indeed, after Monaleen’s draw against Fr. Casey’s the champions had an anxious wait to see if they had kept their play off hopes alive.
A win for Galbally over Adare meant that Monaleen had made it, but only just. The sign of champions though is to win while playing badly. The quarter finals saw Monaleen overcome Ballylanders, while a rematch with Fr Casey’s ensured Monaleen would be there on County final day to defend their title.
By virtue of their table topping finish, Newcastlewest went straight into a semi final tie against Dromcollogher/Broadford. A 2-11 to 1-12 win secured Newcastlewest’s first county final appearance since 2004, when they lost out to the aforementioned, Drom/Broadford.
The last time Newcastlewest were crowned county champions was back in 1992 and this year’s manager, Mike Quilligan agrees that the famine time has gone on too long.
“It is an awful long time for us not to be winning the county. As a dual club we try to be honest to both codes and you cannot always be winning at everything. Sometimes it can start as one defeat and then it grows into an acceptance of defeat instead of a will to win. The gap has been too long. We have only two county titles to our name (1987 and 1992) and come Sunday we will be doing everything we can to make that three.”
Facing Mike Quilligan across the sideline this weekend will be Monaleen manager Milke Mc Dermott. Mc Dermott is happy with how preparations are going, but knows that it was too close a call in the group stages.
“To be honest. We are only still here because of Galbally. We knew that they would be up for the Adare game as they were battling for relegation. We were lucky on the day, but sometimes you need that little bit of luck to get you through. We had alot of lads away over the summer months and when they returned, numbers at training improved and we had better competition for places. The lads are looking forward to this weekend now and we know what it takes on the big day. It will take a massive performance from us to challenge Newcastlewest, who have been the form side in the county this year”
So, who willl win it and where will it be won? Both managers agree that the forward lines will be crucial to their cause.
Mike Mc Dermott feels that his forwards have not reached the standards he requires just yet.
“Both sets of forwards have massive amounts of pace and power. Any team that gets 2-11 against Drom/Broadford in a semi final is to be reckoned with. We know that Newcastlewest are unbeaten in the championship this season, so we feel that whomever takes their chances will be the difference on the day.
Mike Quilligan of Newcastlewest agrees.
“We have a young side, but these lads have been playing in premier competitions all the way along. The game will come down to want and who wants it more. Monaleen are a massively experienced side and we are young. We started out with the aim of winning the county title like everyone else and now we are only a few days away. These games are the reason you play football in the first place. Be it out in the back garden with your brothers, in the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday or in Croke Park on All Ireland final day, the same principle applies. If you want it more than the opposition, then you will win. We just hope we want it more than Monaleen. Great champions that they are”
It could not be set up any better. The champions against the unbeaten, young up and coming side. With names such as Stephen Kelly, James Kelly and Jamie Lee on display for Newcastlewest as well as Ger Collins, Eoin Keating and Muiris Gavin on call for Monaleen, the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday is the place to be. Throw in is at 3.30pm. Best of luck to both sides.
