PREVIEW | St. Kieran’s face Cork’s Ballygiblin in Munster Junior Hurling Club Championship this weekend

Kieran’s overcame Clare opposition Banner in the semi-final with a dramatic 0-17 to 0-16 victory after extra-time.

St. Kieran’s have returned to the Munster Club Championship final for the first time in ten years as they prepare to face Ballygiblin in Mallow this Sunday at 1pm.

Their last Munster final in 2012 was also against Cork opposition with the Limerick JAHC winners failing to take home the honours in a 1-11 to 0-12 defeat against Kildorrey.

But a decade has passed and St. Kieran’s will feel they have the opportunity to avenge their previous defeat in this year’s edition. They have been in scintillating form, defeating every side in their path to the Munster final including a Limerick JAHC final victory over Dromcollogher Broadford in an All-West final.

They had their work cut out for them in their Munster semi-final clash with Banner two weekends ago. The Kieran’s defence well-marshalled intercounty star Shane Meehan before getting the better of the Clare outfit in extra-time to book their place in a Munster Final for the first time in 10 years.

That was their ninth successive win as they seek the perfect ten against the defending champions Ballygiblin.

Path to the Final

St. Kieran’s

• R1 : 2-18 : 1-13 v Askeaton (W)
• R2 : 2-17 : 0-14 v Feenagh Kilmeedy (W)
• R3 : 3-17 : 2-7 v Ballybrown (W)
• R4 : 2-15 : 0-13 v Doon (W)
• R5 : 2-13 : 0-13 v Mungret St Paul’s (W)
• QF : 1-16 : 0-10 v Kilteely Dromkeen (W)
• SF : 2-17 : 1-13 v Killeedy (W)
• Final : 0-14 : 1-6 v Dromcollogher Broadford (W)
• Munster SF : 0-17 : 0-16 v Banner (W)

Their opponents, Ballygiblin, have had to come through both a quarter and semi-final challenge before reaching the final of the competition they won in 2021. Restructuring in Cork proved nothing more than a hindrence to Ballygiblin as they claimed the new Premier Junior title and enter back into the Munster championship after they beat Skehanarinky in last year’s final.

This time around, they defeated Grangemockler/Ballyneale 2-10 to 0-11 in the quarter-final and proceeded to the last-four where they got the better of Colligan, with the score ending 1-19 to 0-10. Darragh Flynn and Joesph O’Sullivan were instrumental to both victories, with Flynn hitting the back of the net in both games while O’Sullivan was responsible for 16 points in total.

The Cork Junior Champions, who are the current holders of the Munster title, are the favourites to retain their championship on Sunday, priced at 4/11.

Last 10 winners

• 2021 – Ballygiblin
• 2019 – Russell Rovers
• 2018 – Cloughduv
• 2017 – Ardmore
• 2016 – Mayfield
• 2015 – Dungourney
• 2014 – Modeligo
• 2013 – Ballysagart
• 2012 – Kildorrery
• 2011 – Charleville

But St. Kieran’s current form will provide them with the confidence to beat any side put in front of them, which is exactly what they’ve done so far this season. They’ll be competing in a final, however, that’s been dominated by Cork and Waterford clubs over the last decade.

The ghost of 2012 will be hang over the side, but that can be used as motivation as they look to right the wrongs of a decade ago against the all-conquering Cork men.

St. Kieran’s face Ballygiblin at 1pm in Mallow this Sunday in the 2022 AIB Munster GAA Hurling Junior Club Championship final.