Fitzgerald wary of O’Rahillys challenge

NEMO Rangers boss Ephie Fitzgerald admits his side face a difficult opening to the defence of their Munster Club SFC crown next Sunday when they face Kerry’s Kerins O’Rahillys at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kerins O’Rahilly’s victory over South Kerry in last Saturday’s Kerry SFC semi-final replay ensured they will be the Kingdom representatives in this year’s Munster championship, with their county final against Mid Kerry set for Sunday week, November 16. Fitzgerald has been impressed with the Strand Road side’s recent run of form.

“I’ve been watching the Kerry championship over the last few weeks and they were the best side by far. Outside of Dr Crokes they are the top club side in Kerry.

“While it was only confirmed on Saturday that they would be the Kerry representatives, in reality we’ve been preparing for them over the last few weeks. If they’d lost to South Kerry, they’d have had to play Laune Rangers on Thursday night which probably would have worked in our favour. As it is they’re entering this game with serious momentum. They’ve beaten a very good South Kerry team and they’ll be taking this game very seriously with a county final coming up the week after. They’ve a fabulous forward line and while they’re team might be young on years, they’re physically strong.”

Nemo Rangers have no injury worries going into the game apart from long-term victim Peter Morgan. Since their county final victory over Douglas four weeks ago, they played the Munster interprovincial side in a challenge match before losing to Castlehaven in the 2007 Kelleher Shield final.

“In the Castlehaven match, we were mentally not at the races. That’s a lesson to us before Sunday. But having said that, our training has gone well. We know that Sunday is a 50-50 game in terms of quality and individuals.

“Two years ago we lost to Dr Crokes at this stage, but it’s not about that. I see this as a new game and a new competition. The hunger is certainly still there amongst the players and we’re concentrating on the next match in front of us. The county is history now, it’s about trying to win the Munster championship. And we’ve a stiff test to start us off in that.”