GAA
The Limerick SFC champions have gone one better than their 2021 campaign where they were beaten in the semi-final.
It took extra-time for Newcastle West to overcome Clonmel Commercials in the Munster Football Club Championship semi-final as they ran out 1-16 to 1-11 winners in Semple Stadium.
The Magpies achieved revenge on the Tipperary opposition from their clash in 2015 with an Emmet Rigter goal in extra-time proving priceless for Jimmy Lee’s men as they pushed past Commercials who were restricted to only one point after full-time.
When it looked like Clonmel would be booking yet another Munster Final spot in the closing stages of the game, NCW did exactly what their opponents did seven years ago and rallied a number of late scores which was enough for an additional twenty minutes that they dominated.
And manager Jimmy Lee believes it’s a regular trait of his players who rarely make it easy for themselves, similar to their SFC Final win over Adare, but still he’s immensely proud of his side’s achievement.
“We never make it easy for ourselves but I suppose we know how to win those battles and that’s what we spoke about at the end of full-time, winning these battles and we were extremely happy with where we were at that moment in time it was just about getting home and hosed and the boys, did they put in some performance in extra-time.
“You’ve got to be extremely proud of them, they’re a bunch of young lads that will do everything that you ask them and look you couldn’t ask for much more from them.”
A Munster final awaits the Magpies as they now prepare to face Kerrins O’Rahillys on the 10th of December following their narrow victory over Clare outfit Eire Og Ennis.
After last year’s semi-final defeat to Austin Stacks, it would be a sweet feeling for Jimmy Lee in only his second season in charge, and he’s confirmed that they only have an outline of a plan ahead of their decider in two weeks time.
“You have to look forward to those games, you know, we’ll study it, we’ll put a plan in place. We haven’t even thought of training yet for the next week like. I think I spoke to Stephen on the bus on the way up in the chance that we won what would we do so we’ve the outline of a plan.”
Newcastle West face Kerrins O Rahillys on the 10th of December in the Munster Football Club Championship Final.