An Ghaeltacht can relieve Crokes of title

COUNTY SFL DIVISION 1 FINAL Dr Crokes v An Ghaeltacht

Sunday, December 17

Lewis Road, Killarney at 2pm Referee: Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)

THE last competitive county GAA fixture goes ahead next Sunday with the destination of the County Senior Football League Division 1 title to be decided.

The title will either be retained by Dr Crokes, who are seeking their third successive County League title, or won by An Ghaeltacht, who were promoted to Division 1 last year and who are looking to end a hugely successful year with a fifth piece of significant silverware.

Playing a football match eight days before Christmas Day is hardly ideal, no matter what the circumstances or the prize on offer, and it remains to be seen what the appetite by both teams will be for this last remaining title.

As reigning League champions – playing on home soil – the expectation will be on Dr Crokes to duly defend their title with their customary competitiveness, but just how deflated they are after losing to Nemo Rangers last month and how much their team holiday to New York will have taken out of them, will only become apparent on Sunday afternoon.

In a similar vein, An Ghaeltacht come into this game on the back of recent wins in the Munster Club Championship final and the West Kerry SFC Final, but just how much more appetite they have for winter football right now is anyone’s guess.

The West Kerry men have, of course, an All-Ireland semi-final to prepare for in January, and a competitive game against Dr Crokes might be as good as anything they will pick up on the challenge game circuit over the festive season. Adding a County League to the County and Munster Intermediate Club titles, the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta won earlier this year, and the more recent West Kerry title, would complete a magnificent quintet of titles for team and club very much on the rise.

An Ghaeltacht lost just two SFL games this year, the first round to Rathmore and the third round to Dr Crokes (who won all 11 of their games), and they will be keen to make their return to Lewis Road a winning one.

The Crokes players only returned from New York on Tuesday, and their mental state of mind on Sunday will be as important as any lingering physical fatigue against an An Ghaeltacht team that is flying fit and high on confidence.

In normal circumstances Crokes should be winning this fixture nine times out of 10. This could be the exception.