SFC Final Preview | A repeat of last year’s decider as Newcastle West and Adare meet in Senior Football Final

The final is a repeat of last year’sdecider with Newcastle West running out six point winners in the TUS Gaelic Grounds.

The Limerick Senior Football title will be heading to a familiar home this year with Newcastle West and Adare meeting in the final this Sunday at 3pm in Kilmallock.

The two clubs have dominated the Limerick football scene in recent years, with 2022 set to be the sixth year in a row that either side has won the competition with three going to Adare and the remaining two in Newcastle West’s favour.

It’s been a reign of dominance that has only occurred within the last few years with Newcastle West claiming their first title in 23 years back in 2015 while 2017 was Adare’s first in their history, a year after they were promoted from the IFC.

Last Ten Winners

• 2021 – Newcastle West
• 2020 – Adare
• 2019 – Newcastle West
• 2018 – Adare
• 2017 – Adare
• 2016 – Monaleen
• 2015 – Newcastle West
• 2014 – Ballylanders
• 2013 – Drom Broadford
• 2012 – Drom Broadford

And their dominance has continued throughout the campaign this year with neither side picking up a loss in their six games, topping both groups and qualifying straight to the semi-finals.

Both of their semi-final clashes were relatively tight with Newcastle West edging out Monaleen by a goal and Adare getting the better of Fr Caseys by four points.

Paths to the Final

Newcastle West

• R1 : 2-7 : 0-8 v Monaleen (W)
• R2 : 2-9 : 0-8 v Oola (W)
• R3 : 3-13 : 0-7 v Galbally (W)
• R4 : 1-16 : 0-6 v Claughaun (W)
• R5 : 0-12 : 0-11 v Fr. Casey’s (W)
• SF: 1-10 : 0-10 v Monaleen (W)

Adare

• R1 : 0-13 : 0-6 v Galtee Gaels (W)
• R2 : 1-13 : 0-13 v Kildimo Pallaskenry (W)
• R3 : 0-13 : 1-7 v Ballysteen (W)
• R4 : 1-7 : 0-9 v Ballylanders (W)
• R5 : 1-15 : 2-8 v St. Kieran’s (W)

Last year both teams reache the final with Newcastle West claiming back the title they lost in 2019 with a low-scoring 1-8 to 0-5 victory for the Magpies. It was a lacklustre display from each with AJ O’Connor proving the difference when sprung from the bench.

The 2017 decider also contained the same teams where Adare came out on top to claim their first SFC crown. It came just twelve months after they were crowned Intermediate champions as they shocked the Magpies with a late Jack English goal sealing the result.

According to the bookmakers, Newcastle West are the favourites to retain their title for the first time in their history as they are priced at 4/6. Adare, on the other hand, have been priced at 13/8 with the side without a number of key players with injury. Hugh Bourke, Eoin Ryan and Eoin Costello have all been staples of the three championship wins, with each missing the entirety of this year’s championship. Gareth Sparling will also miss out on the final.

Yet, there’s little to split the two sides who have beaten every team in their paths to the final. One will have to lose their perfect record this Sunday but it’s anyone’s guess as to who.

Newcastle West face Adare in Kilmallock this Sunday at 3pm in the Limerick Senior Football Championship Final.