O’Dwyer: Kilmurry-Ibrickane ready for O’Rahillys battle
The Clare champions and last year’s provincial finalists earned a return to the decider with a hard-fought win over Stradbally on Sunday.
O’Rahillys will be strong favourites and Odhran O’Dwyer, who scored five of his side’s nine points in what he conceded was a “fortunate” success over Stradbally, understands why they will be entering the game as underdogs.
“It is going to be very tough for us,” said the veteran full-forward.
“They’re an excellent team. When you see a player like Declan Browne being kept scoreless from play after scoring 2-4 in the county final, you know that they have formidable backs.
“Then further up, you see the likes of (Declan) Quill, (Micheál) Quirke and young (Barry John) Walsh. They’re very strong.
“Obviously they’ve lost (Tommy) Walsh and (David) Moran to Australia and that’s a boost if they’re without them but there’s talk that they might slip them home for the final. Whether they do or not, it’ll be 15 against 15.”
The former international rules player is adamant that there will be no fear in the Kilmurry-Ibrickane dressing room, however, and that this game will be nothing like Kerry playing Clare at inter-county level.
“There are so many clubs in Kerry and Cork that when they’re making up their county teams, they have a huge pick compared to Clare. It’s a numbers game. Club squads are different, maybe with the exception of Nemo Rangers.
“The clubs from Kerry and Cork might still have an extra few county players but it’s up to us to come up with a way to beat them.
“If we can throw down the gauntlet and pull everything out, we can win.”
He admits that it is pleasing to be back in the Munster final after losing to Drom Broadford on a 0-6 to 0-5 scoreline last year but that will mean nothing if they don’t add to their sole success at this level, back in 2004.
“We’ve nothing won yet. Last year everyone was patting us on the back until we got to the final when we lost by a point. After that we were slated. That’s just part of being involved in Gaelic games. You’re as good as your last game.
“We’re a small, little country club playing against a big town club but we’ll give it our best shot.”
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