Éire Óg’s appearance in final a triumph over adversity
Kilmurry/Ilbrickane will provide the opposition and will be favourites given the strength of their panel, but Éire Óg have come through the tougher side of the draw, and will make a bold bid to regain a title they last won in 2000.
Things didn’t look good for the Ennis club when O’Halloran opted out, and the team had a decision to make, either shape up or ship out.
They chose the former route and a number of the players took over the running of the team, among them James Hanrahan, and he has been more than pleased with their progress.
“Our aim was to go a step further than last year and we have done that, producing some very good performances which has given the players great confidence,” he said.
“However, we won’t get carried away. While we played well against Doonbeg, Kilmurry will be an entirely difference kettle of fish and we’ll have to be on top of our game if we are to win back the title we last won in 2000.”
Kilmurry have had some outstanding under-age successes in recent years and their team tomorrow will include a number of youngsters who won county minor honours a few short years ago.
In 2002 they ran Nemo Rangers very close in the Munster Club Championship before the Cork champions went on to lose the All-Ireland final.
However, team boss Pat O’Dwyer is at pains to point out that minor and under 21 players don’t automatically become senior players over night.
“It takes youngsters a couple of years to mature, but it’s great to have a plentiful supply of talent coming on stream. A victory tomorrow would bring them on a lot,” said O’Dwyer.
“Our biggest problem this year has been the lack of consistency in games. If we could get it right for an hour we are capable of winning and we know the consequences if we don’t.
Kilmurry will field county seniors Enda Coughlan, Evan Talty, Dermot O’Brien and the O’Dwyer brothers, Odran, Michael, Peter and Robert.
Aidan Maloney, who played midfield with Clare when they defeated Kerry in the 1992 Munster final, is also in line for selection.
This is the first time in years that Éire Óg will field a team of home-grown players. They will include county player Seamus O’Meara, Alan Malone, back to his best following a serous illness, Peter Cosgrove, Owen Glynn and Dave Monaghan.
When the draws were first made both teams were flagged to meet in the final. They have reached tomorrow’s decider on the back of some very good results, but Kilmurry Ilbrickane’s greater pool of talent should see them edge home.
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