PREVIEW | Na Piarsaigh face Kerry’s Rathmore in Munster Intermediate Football Final

Their last Munster Intermediate Football campaign in 2014 ended in a semi-final defeat to Valley Rovers of Cork.

The second Munster Football final including a Limerick team this weekend sees Na Piarsaigh travel to Mallow on Sunday to face Rathmore in the Intermediate decider. Throw-in at Mallow is 3:30pm with the game live on Munster GAA TV.

Na Piarsaigh head into Sunday’s clash fresh from a dramatic penalty shootout win over Ballina in the semi-final. Goalkeeper Eoghain Sherlock was the hero of the day, saving a brace of penalties in the shootout as well as one in normal time to keep Na Piarsaigh’s provincial hopes alive. Evan Egan sealed the win with his penalty making it 4-2.

And they’ve been in flying form throughout the campaign, with the Caherdavin outfit yet to be on the losing side this year. A round three draw against Crecora Manister was the only time they didn’t take the share of the spoils and they’ll be looking to continue this feat on Sunday. They were impressive in the county final win over Drom Broadford before their win over Roanmore in the Munster quarters which was arguably their performance of the year.

Na Piarsaigh – Path to the Final

• R1 : 0-12 : 0-9 v St. Senan’s (W)
• R2 : W/O : 0-0 v Bruff (W)
• R3 : 0-8 : 1-5 v Crecora Manister (D)
• R4 : 1-11 : 1-7 v St. Patrick’s (W)
• R5 : W/O : 0-0 v Glin (W)
• SF : 3-12 : 3-10 v Mungret St. Pauls (W)
• Final : 2-8 : 2-6 v Dromcollogher Broadford (W)
• Munster QF : 2-10 : 1-5 v Roanmore (W)
• Munster SF : 1-5 : 0-8 v Ballina [AET – Na Piarsaigh won 4-2 on pens] (W)

Rathmore – Path to the Final

• R1 : 2-20 : 1-10 v St. Mary’s (W)
• R2 : 1-18 : 0-13 v Glenflesk (W)
• R3 : 0-12 : 1-10 v Milltown Castlemaine (L)
• QF : 3-11 : 1-16 v Laune Rangers (W)
• SF : 2-12 : 1-7 v Beaufort (W)
• Final : 1-14 : 1-13 v An Ghaeltacht (W)
• Munster SF : 1-17 : 2-6 v Kanturk (W)

Rathmore, just like Na Piarsaigh, have only failed to win on one occasion, with their slip also coming in round three when they suffered defeat against Milltown Castlemaine. However, they proved the result was only a blip by steering themselves to the Kerry IFC championship, sealing the deal in a one-point victory over An Ghaeltacht in the final.

Their only Munster championship appearance this season was their semi-final triumph over a fancied Kanturk side, winning the game 1-17 to 2-6. That was the seventh consecutive game the Kerry champions broke double figures in terms of points with an obvious attacking threat.

The Munster IFC is a competition dominated by the Kingdom with Clyda Rovers’ triumph in 2013 being the only win outside of Kerry within the last 10 years.

Roll of Honour

• 2012: Finuge(Kerry)
• 2013: Clyda Rovers(Cork)
• 2014: Ardfert(Kerry)
• 2015: St. Mary’s Cahersiveen(Kerry)
• 2016: Kenmare Shamrocks(Kerry)
• 2017: An Ghaeltacht(Kerry)
• 2018: Kilcummin(Kerry)
• 2019: Templenoe(Kerry)
• 2020: N/A
• 2021: Na Gaeil, Tralee(Kerry)

And Na Piarsaigh will have it all to do to add the green and white of Limerick to the current roll of honour, with bookmakers writing them off already with odds of 10/1 compared to the incredible 1/50 in Rathmore’s favour.

The Kerry kingpins have a pair of All-Ireland winners in their ranks but Paul Murphy is likely to miss the final as he is out of the country according to reports. All-Star goalkeeper Shane Ryan is an equally good attacker where he operates for the club.

Murphy’s absence should help but Na Piarsaigh’s have it all to do if they are to cause a huge upset.

Na Piarsaigh face Rathmore in Mallow this Sunday at 3:30pm in the Munster GAA Football Intermediate Club Championship Final.