Big weekend ahead for Kerry at Mallow double header

BOTH Dr Crokes and Kenmare will go in search of Munster final glory when they are involved in a double bill at the Mallow GAA complex on Sunday next.

Dr Crokes left no one in any doubt that they were the best team in Kerry when regaining the Bishop Moynihan Cup last month and they now go in search of the seventh Munster club title when they take on Waterford champions The Nire in Mallow at 3:30pm.

The Nire have proved themselves to be a tough nut to crack in their two previous final outings and both against Kerry opposition.

Just two years ago they held Austin Stacks to four points (3-5 to 2-4) and back in 2006 they gave Sunday’s opponents, Dr Crokes a right fright before going down by three points (2-5 to 0-8).

Both sides have been busy over the last couple of months and the Killarney outfit are playing for the eighth weekend on the trot. That sort of schedule often leads to injuries but the Kerry standard bearers have been very lucky in that respect.

They had tough encounters against Clare champions Kilmurray-Ibrickane and Tipperary representatives Loughmore-Castleiney, but were probably more comfortable winners than the final scorelines would suggest.

The Deise men, who come from north Waterford not far from Clonmel, surprised many in the semi final a week after winning the county title when accounting for Cork’s Carbery Rangers who had the benefit of a quarter final tie.

That is sure to give them confidence going into Sunday’s game but popular opinion is that Dr Crokes will have too much firepower up front with plenty reserve talent also on the bench to come into the fray if needed.

Having easily disposed of the challenge of Fethard of Tipperary and Clare champions Kilfenora in the quarter final and semi final respectively, Kerry Intermediate champions Kenmare will be hoping to add Limerick champions Adare to that list when the sides meet in the Munster Intermediate championship in Mallow on Sunday in the curtain raiser to the senior final at 1:30pm. Fore warned is fore armed they say and Kenmare will heed the fact that Adare caused a major shock when being full value for the three-points victory over a very hotly fancied Cork side Kiskeam.

The thirteen finals played to date have been shared between Kerry and Cork clubs with Kerry winning nine of those and indeed the Green and Gold standard bearers went on to claim the All Ireland title on five of those occasions.

The Limerick representatives will be out to make their own bit of history on Sunday but with the likes of Stephen O’Brien, Paul O’Connor and Sean O’Shea up front, it will be another major shock if Adare manage to gain a first title for Limerick.

Glenbeigh-Glencar, meanwhile, had little difficulty in qualifying for the Munster Junior final when accounting for Limerick’s Gerald Griffins by 1-13 to 0-6 at Ballyhahill on Saturday last. The Mid Kerry side now meet Cork’s Gabriel Rangers in the final at Mallow on Sunday, December 4 at 3:15pm.

Kerry Novice championship winners still do not know who their opponents will be in the Munster Junior B competition run by the Knockaderry club in Limerick.

They will meet the Limerick champions, either Oola or Drom-Broadford who meet in the Limerick final on Sunday.

The semi-finals are pencilled in for the first two weekends in December.