Kilkee and Cahir try to get the latest lowdown
Kilkee know little or nothing about their opponents. Team boss Kieran Merrinan wasn’t paying too much attention to what was going on in Tipperary as his side hadn’t won the Clare title at the time.
The same could be said for Cahir’s Pat O’Brien, but since qualifying, both have been frantically searching for the lowdown on each other.
“Cahir are an unknown quantity to us as this is their first year winning the Tipperary championship,” said Merrinan. “They weren’t fancied and have come out of the blue.”
“In fairness, you can’t face into such an important fixture on spec. No point in travelling down not knowing what to expect. Two weeks ago Cahir beat Ennistymon to win Division Two of the Munster Football League and gave them a bit of a trimming. Thankfully, they give me an update on Cahir, and we can expect a very strong challenge from them.”
There’s a great incentive for Kilkee to get to the Munster final as they had failed on the previous two occasions, to Castlehaven (1989) and Skibbereen (1992).
“The year you don’t have to meet the Kerry or Cork champions to get to the final is a big bonus. In a final it’s all down to the day, anything can happen. The butt of a post or the crossbar could decided the game. And you don’t know what the weather conditions will be either in the month of November.”
Kilkee’s injuries have finally cleared up with only Michael Galvin continuing to be an absentee. He damaged his cartilage in the drawn county final and faces surgery.
Ger Keane didn’t play against Drom-Boradford in the Munster quarter-final because of a swollen thigh, but he’s fully recovered, as is Brian McNamara, who had stitches in his knee which kept him out of the Drom game.
Merrinan is concerned about the inconsistency of his team. “It has been hit and miss for us all year,” he said, “but we managed to put it together for the county final replay, and if we succeed again tomorrow, I would be fairly confident of getting a result”.
“There’s a great buzz in Kilkee since the county final victory and the football is keeping the place going. It’s great to be training in November where the prize is a Munster Club title. The opportunity doesn’t come around too often,” said Kieran.
For Cahir coach Pat O’Brien this is also virgin territory. They won the Tipperary county title for the first time recently by defeating Ardfinnan, but O’Brien is cautiously optimistic, with home advantage, that his side can also reach their first Munster final.
“Outside of Cahir we weren’t rated in Tipperary but through sheer hard work we managed to take our first title. With no first round game in the Munster championship we had time to celebrate in style, but all that has been stopped for the last fortnight.
“This is huge for us, and it remains to be seen how we cope with the situation. Having come this far the lads are keen to have a shot at it. To reach the final in your first year of trying would be unbelievable, but we cannot afford to look beyond Sunday.
“Playing at home could be an advantage but it will also place extra pressure on players to deliver in front of their own supporters. We set out this year to win the county championship and anything we achieve from here on is a bonus.”
O’Brien is concerned about the fitness of goalkeeper Brian Enright. He missed out on the county final win over Ardfinnan because of a groin injury.
“Having no knowledge of St Senans, it’s difficult to know what to expect. The talk is that they are coming down full of confidence, but we’ll give them a hot reception,” said O’Brien.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
