Russell Rovers look a fearsome foe for improving Kilgarvan

MUNSTER CLUB JHC QUARTER-FINAL Kilgarvan v Russell Rovers Saturday, November 16 Lewis Road, Killarney 1.30pm

KILGARVAN are really up against it this weekend. Apart from the fact that Russell Rovers look pretty darned good – and we’ll come back to that – there’s the fact that Cork clubs have an outrageously good record in this particular competition.

Out of the eighteen stagings to date clubs from the Rebel county have won eleven, starting with the first in 2001 (won by Courcey Rovers) and finishing last year with Clougduv’s victory over Ballinameela. In the last four years Cork clubs have taken the cup home three times.

That’s a serious level of dominance. It’s not quite as complete a domination as the Kerry clubs have had over the Munster junior football championship, but when you consider how much more competitive hurling is in Munster than football you begin to get an idea of just how impressive that is.

Then when you looked at how strong Russell Rovers seemed in their victory over Carraig na bhFear in the Cork final and you see just how difficult a task it is that faces Mickey Foley and his men in Lewis Road this Saturday afternoon.

Rovers won by eleven points – 1-17 to 0-9 – with their inside forwards Josh Beausang and Bud Harnett gathering 1-11 of their total. Beausang took seven points (four from play) and Harnett 1-4 from play. Those two will take serious watching.

Getting scores wouldn’t seem to be an issue for Rovers. Meanwhile, defensively they’re very strong with their half-back line of John Paul Ivers, James Kennefick an Chris Ruddy coming in for special mention in the Evening Echo after their county final victory. Rovers full-back line and keeper Ross Walsh is also highly rated.

Kilgarvan though have quality of their own and have something Russell Rovers don’t – experience of provincial competition. Some of Kilgarvan’s stand-out players include corner-back Liam Twomey, centre-back John Mark Foley, midfielder Gearóid Fennessey, centre-forward Dónal O’Sullivan and full-forward Seán Godfrey. That’s a lot of quality. It’s a little bit of a shame the match is in Lewis Road and now down in the Roughty Valley, but Kilgarvan’s familiarity with Dr Crokes’ home ground should nevertheless be something of an advantage.

It’s a big ask but it’s not impossible for Kilgarvan. They’ve been to a Munster final before and their desire to get there again is very real. Rovers though get the benefit of the doubt.