Kerry pride may be spur for underdogs Milltown

IAN TWISS is laughing, somewhat ironically. It isn't that the bookies are dismissing Milltown-Castlemaine ahead of tomorrow's Munster Club SFC semi-final in Quilty (2.30pm).

But the advertised odds in one shop window still have Laune Rangers as Kerry's representatives.

How long since a Kerry football team went into a provincial semi-final as such long odds outsiders? Twiss, Milltown-Castlemaine's best known attacker, can't remember, but the fact they are representing such footballing heritage weighs heavily.

"We are probably travelling more in hope than anything, but we are representing Kerry and that means something," the former UCC star said.

However, the portents aren't good. Twiss himself is doubtful with a hamstring injury, Kilmurry-Ibrickane will enjoy home advantage and Milltown's preparations have been fitful. With good reason, as it happens.

"We were really only training for the Mid Kerry championship, but a few things outside our control perked up our interest. First, the two divisional sides were drawn apart in the county semi finals, which kept alive the possibility that the (parallel) club championship could have an additional significance. Then we were paired with Kilcummin in the club semi final, and finally we had the incentive of beating our local rivals, Laune Rangers, in the decider, when they were without four key players. Things have fallen into place for us."

The club championship in Kerry is only relevant in a provincial context if a divisional side wins the county championship. Unlike some counties where the defeated finalists represent the county, Kerry runs a separate competition.

"Our fellas would have been considered inexperienced by county championship standards (where they lost to St Kieran's), so in a provincial context, we would be complete novices.

" Kilmurry gave Nemo Rangers some fright two years ago when the Cork lads went onto win the All-Ireland, so they are obviously formidable at home," Twiss reckoned.

Two plusses, though. Defender Fionan Kelliher is back from a three month suspension, and Milltown will also have two of the Kerry minors who went all the way to this year's All-Ireland final - defender (and Fionan's brother) Ciaran Kelliher, and corner forward Shane Murphy.

It's three weeks since Kilmurry's one point victory over Drom-Broadford in the provincial semi final, but celebrations have been firmly grounded as the focus switches to tomorrow.

"I don't think Clare football is as bad as some people think," reckons their star turn, Odhran O'Dywer. "There is a very thin line between winning and losing and we just have to break that line. It would be fantastic if we could get to another Munster Club final. The last time we got there, a great Nemo team hammered us. Sunday offers us a chance at redemption."

A vibrant underage structure has seen football titles at U12 and U14 levels, and the county treble of minor, U21 and senior, the treble being the first time this feat has ever been achieved by a Clare club in hurling or football.

"It has been a great year for the club in all grades," adds O'Dwyer. "There is a good coaching set-up here, and a lot of our focus is on ball and skill work. And, above all else, we really enjoy ourselves." He admitted: "We thought we would be playing Laune Rangers, but, then it turned out to be Milltown-Castlemaine. You never see a bad team coming out of Kerry so we're going to be really up against it."