Mungret St Paul’s set for Munster club IFC final against Cill Na Martra:
By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK champions Mungret St Paul’s face into yet another final when they head to Mallow on Sunday for their Munster Club Intermediate Football decider with Cork’s Cill na Martra.
The city club travel to the game full of confidence following their comfortable semi-final win over Waterford’s Roanmore at Walsh Park last time out.
Mungret have had a sensational 2023 already and are looking to finish the year by adding a Munster title to their well-stocked trophy cabinet.
They have earned promotion from Senior B hurling to Senior A, won the county intermediate football title; won the junior a hurling championship and junior a football championship.
It has been a year of years for Mungret but they will feel they have a fighting chance against a well-fancied Cill Na Martra outfit.
The Cork side have had wins over Kilmihil of Clare and Kerry’s Milltown-Castlemaine en route to the final. They earned the Cork Premier Intermediate Football title with a win over Bantry Blues in October and are managed by Kerry’s John Evans.
The Killorglin man has vast experience in the club game as well inter-county having manged Tipperary, Roscommon and Wicklow. He also guided Laune Rangers to the All-Ireland Club Senior football crown in 1996. It’s his second season in charge with the Gaeltacht club.
Mungret have been on the outskirts of the Limerick IFC in the last number of years but have managed to return to the senior grade for the first time since 2006 after the win over Drom-Broadford in the final.
Mungret navigated the group stage with five wins from five games. Drom-Broadford, Pallasgreen, Rathkeale, Gerald Griffins and a walkover from Glin accounted for their 10 points, before beating Rathkeale and Drom again to win the competition.
Manager Kevin O’Hagan will have captain John Hutton back and available for selection following his return from honeymoon. The forward missed the Munster semi-final win over Roanmore.
This is bonus territory for Mungret but that doesn’t mean that they will be going all out for victory against the hot favourites. The game is being streamed live by Munster GAA from 1.30pm.