Charleville get nod to edge early Christmas cracker

THE last big game of the 2011 Munster hurling calendar and, make no mistake, while the names of the two finalists may not resonate across the country, for two clubs with a long and proud hurling history this is a big game.

There was a time back in the 1950s when Cappamore were monarchs of Limerick, county senior champions three times that decade. Finding themselves down in junior ranks then, which was where they’ve been for the last few years, was seen very much as slumming it.

Winning the county junior title was a must, a first step in the restoration of lost pride. Last year they fell to eventual champions Effin by seven points in the quarter-final. This year they made it all the way, though it took three games to get past the Kilmallock second string (first game abandoned due to the weather, the next game drawn, then – only last Saturday – eventual victory).

Lest anyone see that as a measure that Cappamore aren’t up to much, however, remember that Effin – current Munster IH champions – fell to the same opposition in the South Limerick championship last year. No, my friends, this is a good Cappamore outfit.

Charleville, too, went through something of a marathon series before they could be declared Cork champions. First, they had a draw and replay with Mayfield in the actual county final, then they had to go back to North Cork to play their own divisional final against Kildorrery, with both North Cork and the county title on the line. That they came through all that also speaks volumes for their resilience.

Charleville are odds-on favourites, but this is due only to the fact Cork clubs have such a fantastic record in this competition, winning five of the eight championships played to date, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick one each.

Delve a little deeper, however. Limerick’s win was only two years ago, and Blackrock went on to win the All-Ireland, while last year Meelin were well tested by Effin. Not nearly as clear-cut then as the odds would suggest, and this could well be an early Christmas cracker.

Verdict: Charleville.