‘Big two’ meet in first senior final of the season

MUNSTER JUNIOR CUP KERRY AREA FINAL

THE first senior final of the new season is down for decision at Mounthawk Park next Sunday when Dingle Bay Rovers and Killarney Celtic lock horns in the Kerry Area Final of the Munster Junior Cup.

This is a repeat of last aeason’s Premier A final which Dingle won so this game is a mouth watering prospect which is very hard to call.

It is a game that has huge appeal and should bring out a big crowd at soccer headquarters.

When they met back in June in the League Final it was a memorable game with Dingle winning 4-3 after a superb game that provided absorbing entertainment.

This will be an opportunity for Killarney Celtic to avenge that defeat so that will add spice to the proceedings.

Both sides are on a huge high at the moment after going through to the last 32 of the FAI Junior Cup after big wins against high profile clubs..

In their path to the final Killarney Celtic defeated Mitchels Avenue 2-0 in the opening round. They travelled to Castleisland next and won 3-1. They met Listowel Celtic in the semi-final and won 2-1.

Meanwhile Dingle had an easy passage to the final beating Classic FC 6-2 in the first round and defeated Fenit Samphires 4-0 in the quarter-final.

They were very impressive in the semi final beating Tralee Dynamos 6-1

There should be some fascinating duals at midfield with Gary Keane and Stephen Hayes for Celtic up against Dingle’s Joe Sheehy and Luke Burgess.

Both sides have good defences and it will be interesting to see how Dingle will plan to curb the threat of Cathal O’Shea and Wayne Sparling and possibly Peter McCarthy.

While at the other end Celtic will be hoping to nullify the threat of Sean Fitzgerald and Sean O’Connor.

I have seen both sides play on a few occasions this season and they are without doubt the two best sides in the KDL at present.

They have a great desire to win, possess great passion and commitment and play great football which are qualities other sides should aspire to.

Celtic have a great management team this season in Brian Spillane and David Hayes and they have great experience playing the game at the highest level in the county and know what it is like on and off the field of play.

Meanwhile, Dingle boss Martin O’Neill has been promoting soccer in Dingle for longer than he cares to remember and won the Premier A title with his side last season a task that most soccer pundits believed was impossible.

It is a game that will go right down to the wire and it will be no surprise if it goes to extra time and possibly a penalty shoot out.

The winner will go through to the last 32 open draw.

Tralee Dynamos got t the Munster Junior Cup final back in 2015 but went down to Waterford side Carrick United.