Back in the spotlight on football’s western front

TOMORROW evening’s West Cork junior football decider in Skibbereen is dripping with novelty and charm.

Clann na Gael and Gabriel Rangers have not been accustomed to playing under the spotlight in recent years and were not the market leaders at the start of this season to be final contestants. The draw pitched them together in the first round when Clann na Gael triumphed 3-8 to 0-8 but Gabriel Rangers recovered from that loss to manoeuvre through the backdoor and tomorrow they will be seeking their elusive first crown at this level.

“It’s a massive occasion,” admits Gabriel Rangers manager Brian Hayes. “It’s great to see the flags out in Schull and Ballydehob. Five years ago we got to the final as well, but there wasn’t the same buzz that there is now. For any small club reaching a divisional final is a big thing and especially for us, considering we’ve reached so few. We lost finals in 1979, 1983 and 2005, but you always keep battling on and live in hope.”