IN a novel pairing, Mungret St Paul’s and Newcastle West clash in the Irish Wire Products sponsored Limerick Senior Football Championship final at Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, on Sunday (3.30pm, referee: Timmy McGrath, Oola).
Such occasions are familiar to Newcastle West, now 14-time finalists and winners seven times.
For Mungret, however, this is only a second ever appearance in a decider. Way back in 2001, the club suffered defeat to then kingpins Dromcollogher Broadford.
In Askeaton, full-forward Shane Barry emerged as the hero with a couple of excellent late points to earn St Paul’s a famous semi-final win against holders Adare.
Aside from Barry, Kevin O’Hagan’s charges have plenty of talent through the likes of Jason Hassett, Ciaran Uwatse, Frank Corcoran, OisÃn Moss, Darragh O’Hagan, Darragh O’Sullivan, Diarmuid Hynes, Killian Ryan, Brendan Giltenane and captain John Hutton.
In Rathkeale, Newcastle West (NCW) overcame Fr Casey’s in the other semi after extra time, 2-16 to 0-14.
Only for a last-gasp equaliser from Eoin Hurley in regulation time, NCW would have exited Championships ‘25.
Hurley is a key player with the west outfit, as are Darren O’Doherty, Ruadhán O’Connor, Seamus Hurley, Aaron Neville, Iain Corbett (captain), Seán Murphy, Lee Woulfe, Thomas Quilligan, and Mike McMahon,
While Newcastle West rightly enter as favourites, Mungret St Paul’s stand a serious chance of lifting the Fr William Casey Memorial Cup for the first time in the club’s proud history.
This weekend’s winners will be away to Dingle (Kerry) on November 23.
Championship scorers leaderboard: Josh Ryan, Oola, 4-35 (47); Iain Corbett, Newcastle West, 8-15 (39); Bob Childs, Galtee Gaels, 1-30 (33).
Ryan, goalkeeper with Limerick, has suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury and will be ruled out for a spell.
The Intermediate (St Senan’s v Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan or Galbally), Premier Junior (Ahane v Fr Casey’s), Junior A (Adare v Camogue Rovers), Junior B (Knockainey v Knockane) and Junior C (Athea v South Liberties) finals are also pencilled in for this weekend.
Meanwhile, Mayor John Moran will host a civic reception for League winners and Tailteann Cup finalists Limerick at County Hall, Dooradoyle, on Thursday.