Lispole have the quality to claim Novice crown and Knockaderry invitation

COUNTY NOVICE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Lispole v Tuosist

WHILE both the name and the cup are still the same, this is in essence what we previously knew as the Novice Shield as Lispole and Tuosist do battle this Sunday in Listry to be crowned winners of the Hickey/Quirke Cup for 2016.

This is now the fifth level of Championship football in Kerry as opposed to being the fourth normally with the introduction of the new Premier Junior competition to determine Kerry’s representatives in the Munster Junior Club Championship.

The sides that lost the preliminary round involves all sides below Intermediate level along with those who lost the first round of the Junior competition became eligible to play in this grade with all bar two of the scheduled fixtures being completed.

Tuosist received one of the walkovers in this grade after fellow Kenmare District side Kilgarvan were unable to field while they followed up with victories over Valentia and Ballyduff to make it here to their first county decider since 2008 when they defeated Scartaglin in that year’s Novice Championship decider.

Lispole have a bit of a chequered history when it comes to the old Novice Championship, losing three of the last four finals and also losing to the eventual winner of the competition every year since 2012. They gave Listowel Emmets an almighty fright in the preliminary round before going down to Junior finalists Fossa in the first round of the Junior to find themselves here. Wins over two sides in maroon in both Cromane and Duagh have brought them this latest chance to end their Novice hoodoo.

Seeing Glenbeigh/Glencar finally break their hoodoo further up the football ladder should give them the confidence to try and finally end theirs.

There is the added bonus of entry to the Knockaderry Invitational Tournament in Limerick for the victor, an event Tuosist won back in 2009, although it must be said when the club was in a much stronger position than it has been since.

Contending strongly for promotion from Division Five this year suggests there is still some life in the club but losing to Sneem/Derrynane in the final of the promotion play-offs is a bit of a downer to be heading into a contest like this Sunday’s.

Lispole won’t underestimate them but provided they play to their strengths, the Hickey /Quirke Cup should finally be in their possession come Sunday evening.

VERDICT: Lispole