Carbery the favourites to pull off treble
In 2003 they won the junior title but failed in the All-Ireland final; last year they won the Munster and All-Ireland intermediate championships and are now in line for a hat-trick of titles which would see the Rosscarbery club create their own bit of history.
The Cork club will start favourites on the strength of what they have achieved to date, but the loss of two key players in full back Anthony Roche and forward Seamus Hayes has shortened the odds considerably.
It’s not every intermediate club that can boast two members of the county senior side. Carbery are in that category with Kevin McMahon and John Hayes and when you add in Michael O’Sullivan, who was a Cork senior two years ago, it’s easy to understand why Rangers are as successful as they are.
“We’ve been on the go non-stop now for three years in a row but our appetite for the game has not diminished one bit,” said club official James Hubbert.
“If anything it’s even greater because like all good things, it will eventually come to an end and Carbery Rangers want to make the most of their time “There have been a couple of hairy moments particularly in the Cork championship. Killavullen gave us a desperate scare in the first round. We went into that game just five weeks after losing the All-Ireland junior title and were very fortunate to come away with a point win.
“Only two points separated us from Ballinora in round two, and had St Vincent’s taken their chances that night in Bandon in the quarter-final, we wouldn’t be here at all. Our best form was reserved for the Munster campaign.
“We made hard work of beating Ennistymon (Clare) in the quarter-final but played very well against Legion in the semi-final and if we could produce a similar performance, and even allowing for the loss of the two lads, we’d give it a good rattle.”
Nestled on the Tipperary border, Pallasgreen are also creating history for themselves by appearing in their first ever Munster club final. After winning their way through the Limerick championship and defeating Moyle
-Templetuohy in the first round in Munster, they came up against Ring (Waterford) in the Munster semi-final and according to club secretary Ger O’Connell, caused a bit of a shock by winning.
“Talking to Ring people after the game they had fancied themselves to reach the final and win it, but it was easily our best display of the year and we’ll be looking for a similar performance tomorrow,” he said.
“Wayne McCarthy is troubled with a shoulder injury but has been making good progress. Club players at this level don’t get too many chances of winning a Munster medal and he’ll play through the pain barrier if he has to in order to help the club pull off what would be an historic first for us.
“What a Christmas present that would make for all who are involved with the club if we were to win our first Munster title at the first attempt. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
But Carbery Rangers have been through it all before, and provided they can fill the gaps left by Roche and Hayes adequately, they should retain their crown.
