PREVIEW | Rathkeale and Kildimo Pallaskenry set for novel Intermediate football final

Rathkeale and Kildimo Pallaskenry meet tonight in the Limerick intermediate football final in Mick Neville Park.

At the start of the summer you would have got lengthy odds on Kildimo Pallaskenry and Rathkeale meeting in the IFC, if there even was odds on a possible outcome.

But against the odds, both sides are full value for their place in the final with the top table just one game away.

For Kildimo Pallaskenry, it is a first ever final at the grade while Rathkeale fell at the same stage in 2018.

Last Ten Limerick Intermediate Football Champions

2020: Clauaghaun

2019: Galtee Gaels

2018: Galbally

2017: St Senans

2016: Adare

2015: Oola

2014: Na Piarsaigh

2013: Rathkeale

2012: Pallasgreen

2011: Mountcollins

Mike Barrett’s men started this year’s campaign with a pair of draws against Mungret St Pauls and St Patrick’s which was enough to see them into the knockout stages. The West side laid down their marker when they were dominant 0-11 to 1-5 winners over Drom Broadford in the quarter-finals. That set up a meeting Gerald Griffins for the fourth successive year. And after back to back losses in the knockout rounds in 2019 and 2020, Rathkeale avenged those defeats with a 2-11 to 1-10 win in Newcastle West.

Their opponents started the year with a standout win over Drom Broadford as they overcame the seven time senior champions in their first year at the grade. Defeat followed against Crecora but KP moved onto the quarters by virtue of scoring difference. But against Mungret St Pauls, they led from start to finish to set up a semi-final with St Senans. Avenging the loss at the quarter-finals last year, a pair of Darren O’Connell goals helped KP into a maiden final at the grade.

Path to the Final

Rathkeale

• Rd 1: drew with Mungret St Pauls 0-11 to 0-11
• Rd 2: drew with St Patricks 2-3 to 0-9
• QF: beat Drom Broadford 0-11 to 1-5
• SF: beat Gerald Griffins 2-11 to 1-10

Kildimo Pallaskenry

• Rd 1: beat Drom Broadford 2-14 to 1-13
• Rd 2: lost to Crecora 0-13 to 0-10
• QF: beat Mungret St Pauls 1-13 to 1-11
• SF: beat St Senans 2-11 to 2-9

This is a novel meeting of the sides who are coming at this final from differing avenues. Rathkeale were intermediate champions in 2013 with their 4-17 to 1-10 won over Oola sending warning signals to the top tier. But they could never build on from that success and fell to relegation in 2017, losing to Ballysteen after a replay.

The following year they reached the decider of the intermediate championship but lost out to Galbally 1-6 to 0-8 in an underwhelming final. Defeats followed to Gerald Griffins in successive years but now they are just one game away from where they feel they ought to be.

On the other hand, Kildimo Pallaskenry were crowned Junior B Champions in 2014 before following up with A honours in 2018. In their first year at the intermediate ranks they struggled but the city side reached the knockout stages for the first time last year. They have built on that and are now just 60 minutes from dual senior status which would be an incredible turnaround considering their position in the Limerick hierarchy at the start of the last decade.

And while Rathkeale will be favoured, you couldn’t rule out KP upsetting the odds yet again.

Rathkeale play Kildimo Pallaskenry in the Limerick Intermediate Football final in Mick Neville Park on Thursday October 28 at 7.30pm.

Get your tickets below.

Kildimo Pallaskenry v Rathkeale Tickets