BEATEN finalists 12 months ago, Dromcollogher/Broadford will hope to atone for that outcome this time around at the expense of Mungret St. Paul’s in the Griffin Coaches Limerick Intermediate Football showpiece at Páirc na nGael, Askeaton on Saturday, 3pm.
Much earlier in the season, the finalists met in the group stages with Mungret very comfortable eight point winners.
However, that was an age ago and both teams have improved immeasurably in the intervening period.
In their semi-final, DB caused a minor upset with a 0-13 to 0-7 win over St. Senan’s at this weekend’s final venue. The eventual winners were a couple of points in arrears at the interval, but were the superior outfit on the restart, most notably in the crucial closing ten minutes.
Kenny Lynch, Micheál Brosnan and Jack Pierce are amongst the scoring threats for DB, who also have plenty others of note, such as captain Seán O’Sullivan, Brian Stack, Garrett Noonan, Cillian Fahy, Seamus Brosnan and Brian Aherne.
Kevin McGill is manager of a club looking to return to the top-tier, a championship in which DB were dominant for around a dozen years (2001-2013) which yielded seven county titles.
To reach the final, Mungret St. Paul’s justified favouritism in a 0-12 to 2-4 defeat of Rathkeale at Noel Drumgoole Park, Caherdavin.
The teams were tied at the break and Mungret deservedly advanced to keep their unbeaten record intact. At the heart of the win was the eye-catching display of captain John Hutton (0-8), while support will always be on hand through the likes of Brian Treacy, Robert Hegarty, Jack McCarthy, Brian Barry, Darragh O’Hagan, Killian Ryan, Liam Harrington and Darragh Bridgeman.
Kevin O’Hagan is Mungret boss, a club itching to have another shot in the senior ranks (in which their lone final appearance was in 2001).
Mungret are, marginally, tipped for success this weekend.
Oola’s Timmy McGrath will referee, with Mike Sexton – fresh from his handling of the Senior Hurling Final – and Mike Moloney on line duty.
The winning captain will accept the Moss Carrig Memorial Cup, and progress to a Munster Championship, along with entry into the local senior competition in 2024.
