Clare champs face Waterford's Stradbally in Munster final

Stradbally and Kilmurry/Ibrickane clash in the Munster club football final in Thurles today and the occasion is unusual in that it is only the second time in the history of the competition that a team from Cork or Kerry will not contest the decider.

The only other time that neither of the big two was represented came back in 1998 when another Clare outfit, Doonbeg, faced Moyle Rovers of Tipperary.

Banner champs Kilmurry overcame Limerick side Drom-Broadford in the quarter-final and then saw off Kerry side Milltown Castlemaine, against all the odds, in the semi-final.

However, the Quilty side are sweating on the fitness of Peter O'Dwyer ahead of today's game.

One of four brothers on the team, O'Dwyer damaged an ankle during the semi-final win over Milltown/Castlemaine two weeks ago. He has been receiving intensive treatment on the injury since.

Meanwhile, Stradbally made light work of Tipp champions Loughmore Castleiney before recording a surprise victory over Cork kingpins Bishopstown to qualify for today's final for the first time in 24 years.

Despite having midfielder George Walsh sent off after 20 minutes, the Waterford four-in-a-row champions battled bravely to ensure their passage.

Both camps see this as an opportunity to break the stranglehold the big guns have had on the Munster club championship.

However, experience could swing it for Kilmurry. Odran O'Dwyer, Martin Cahill and Martin Keavey know what it's like to play in a provincial final - the trio were part of the team that lost to Cork's Nemo Rangers in the decider in 1993.