LISTEN | Paudie O’Brien looks ahead to “massive battle” with Ballygunner

Paudie O’Brien chats ahead of his second ever Munster final with Kilmallock this Sunday.

It’s a clash of the titans when Ballygunner take on Limerick kingpins Kilmallock in the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship this Sunday.

Pairc Ui Chaoimh will host the meeting of the sides who have five provincial titles between them.

For Kilmallock’s Paudie O’Brien, the chance to play in the final will not be lost on the side who are taking each game one at a time after waiting seven years to return to this stage.

“It’s so hard to get there. Its hard enough to win Limerick and get out of your county so all these games are extremely tough. You’re playing the cream of the crop. We’re desperate happy to be there, we have a huge task ahead of us on Sunday so we’re delighted yeah.

“We haven’t thought about it [All-Ireland]. We were just so lucky to get through the group in Limerick and that’s not me trying to play down our chances. We genuinely got through by the skin of our teeth. We are going out this weekend, very well prepared, no injuries, no issues. We’re hoping that we can get over the line but if we do we will have a huge semi-final in a couple of weeks so we really are taking it one game at a time.”

Kilmallock are back in the Munster final for the first time since 2014 when they overcame Cratloe in a thriller in the Gaelic Grounds after extra time.

The Balbec went on to reach the All-Ireland final where they were beaten by Ballyhale Shamrocks, who are already into this year’s semi-final where they will play St Thomas of Galway.

And while the chance to exact revenge could be on the horizon, O’Brien isn’t looking past the Deise men.

“We’re playing on the best teams in the country this weekend and I don’t want to give cliches but we cant look past them. If we get there, will it be unfinished business? It probably won’t, these lads are out there to do their own things, make their own history, to write their only history and drive on themselves. What happened before, my baggage, or Graeme’s, or Gavin’s has nothing to do with it so we’ll drive on with that and if were get there, all well in good, if not so be it.”

As for their opponents, Ballygunner will be favoured to claim a third Munster title in three attempts, adding to their title won in 2018 at the expense of a Limerick outfit.

Ballygunner are appearing in the Munster championship for the seventh successive year having collected every Waterford title since 2013.

But while some have put their dominance down to the quality elsewhere in the championship, O’Brien disagrees, outlining the quality and consistency in the Deise outfit to always find a way.

“We have a huge amount of respect for them. I think it’s actually more impressive what they have done in Waterford as opposed to what they have done in Munster. I don’t buy into the fact that the Waterford championship is weaker than others. I think that’s rubbish to be honest with you because you see it from the county team and the great clubs they have.

“To see them going on a run for 7,8,9 counties in a row, without ever getting caught on any given day, to show the maturity and consistency to always come back to win it tells enough about their group that we will have a massive battle on Sunday.

Listen to the interview with O’Brien in full below.