McGrath set to be fit for Sion’s clash with the ‘Well

McGrath needed treatment at the Waterford Regional Hospital, but team manager Jim Greene said yesterday he is more than hopeful that the 2002 Allstar will be fit.

McGrath has been dogged by a hamstring injury since his club’s first round county championship defeat of Ardmore several months ago and was out of action until last month’s semi-final against Lismore.

“Ken has been very unlucky with injuries this year,” Greene said. “A player of lesser resolve might decide to take time out now that we have retained our county title, but I know he and all rest of the team will be just as anxious to retain our Munster title.”

Micéal White suffered a slight recurrence of a hamstring strain, but is almost certain to play.

Greene can vividly recall Mount Sion’s one and only previous Munster championship encounter against Patrickswell:

“It was the 1988 final which we lost, and it was also my first time in charge of the team having ended my career after that year’s county final victory,” he said.

That championship win had a very special significance for Greene because he won a county medal with his son Brian, then a minor and in his first year as a Mount Sion senior player.

“Brian was starting out his career in the year that mine was finishing,” Greene said. “It was nice that father and son shared in a title success and it is to Brian’s credit that 15 years down the road he is still an ever present on the Mount Sion team.”

Greene is looking forward to a ‘mighty’ battle with Patrickswell, but believes the experience gained from last year’s campaign will stand them in good stead against a side he rates very highly.

“On our day we are capable of beating any team but we will have to be at our very best to beat the Limerick champions,” he said.

Greene would have preferred “just a few more days” to prepare for Sunday’s game, but he is happy the Munster Council agreed to a one-week deferment.

Greene’s record as Mount Sion manager is an impressive one, with just one defeat in eight county final appearances.

However, he would now dearly like to go one step further and help the club to win “back to back” Munster titles.

“That’s the goal, that’s what our trip to the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday will be all about,” he said.

Patrickswell have no injury worries. Team coach Jim Fawl said the full panel trained on Sunday and are looking forward to the visit of the Waterford and Munster champions.