Captains excited as Limerick SFC Comes to a Conclusion

THE 2019 version of the Limerick Senior Football Final is a novel pairing as Newcastle West face Oola in the final for the first time. Newcastle West will be seeking a fourth overall county title while Oola are looking for a seventh trophy with their last win coming in 1979.

Although they beat Newcastle in the group stages of the competition, Oola will come into the game as underdogs having only earned promotion to the senior grade four years ago.

Speaking at the preview of the eagerly awaited final, Oola captain Eoin Fitzgibbon talked about the excitement in the team ahead of the decider.

“It’s a new experience for all of us. Gathered a bit of momentum over the last few games so it’s exciting but a lot of work to do. Looking forward to it.”

Having faced Newcastle in each of the last three championship seasons, Fitzgibbon is under no illusions of the challenge that awaits his side in the LIT Gaelic Grounds.

“Newcastle West are always going to be strong. We had a tight game and there was nothing in it

Probably robbed them in the end. We’ve shipped a few beatings to them over the years as well.

They’re a huge challenge for us, they have serious forwards, they work very hard and operate like a county team in terms of fitness. We’ll put in as good a performance as we can and hopefully that will be good enough.“

Newcastle West are captained by Thomas Quilligan, son of manager Mike Quilligan was involved in both the 2015 and 2017 deciders and is happy to be back in the business end of the championship.

“Yeah it’s great to be back there. It’s a long season with the break during the summer but great to be back there.”

Like his father, Thomas spoke of the importance of that win over Adare that saw Newcastle West give as close to a complete performance as you’re likely to see.

“It was a big win with Adare going for three-in-a-row and beating us two years ago in the county final. In the semi final we got our attitude right on the day and our performance on that day was good enough.”

He is mindful, however, of the challenge that Oola will present haven falling to them in the championship in August.

“They’re a good side. We’ve played them three years in a row in the group stages, they beat us two years ago and this year.

“They’re a strong physical side that can move the ball. They have some really good footballer and they can score goals as you know.

The last few years we have probably underachieved, that’s what people would think.

We have put in a lot of effort for club football. To captain them you’d be proud and hopefully we can win it.”