Experience should tell for Modeligo in Junior Football County Final against Roanmore

One of the last pieces of silverware for 2015 will be handed out at Fraher Field on Saturday evening next when Modeligo and Roanmore clash in the County Junior Football Final.

The prize on offer to the winners will be a Munster Club semi final spot against Coolmeen from Clare a week later at a venue in Clare after they overcame the challenge of Limerick side Cappagh at Askeaton on Saturday last.

Roanmore were the first side to reach this year’s final when they beat Ferrybank at Friday evening last at the WIT Campus in Carriganore with three clear goals between the sides at the end of the hour.

There path to the final has been an impressive one as they recorded wins over Kilmacthomas, Naomh Pól, De La Salle and Portlaw before loosing to group winners Ferrybank in the fifth round of games, but they finished off the group section of the competition with wins over Kill, and Bunmahon.

Roanmore entered the knockout stages of the competition in the east of the county at the semi final stages where they beat Bunmahon for the second time this year at Carrickbeg and on Friday evening last they had a 3-5 to 0-5 win over Ferrybank in the Championship decider.

The Sky Blues in that game got off to a great start as Shane Nolan and Paul O’Sullivan kicked early points to edge them in front but two goals from Shane Nolan proved to be the important scores in those opening 30 minutes as they turned around at the break with a 2-2 to 0-3 lead.

Nolan’s second goal in that game came as a result of a penalty won following a challenge by Ferrybank goalkeeper Martin Freeman on Paul O’Sullivan but Freeman made up for his giving away the one on one kick from 12 metres by blocking Shane Nolan’s effort but was powerless to keep out the rebound from the same player.

And if their was any doubting the final outcome of the game, Roanmore well and truly ensured that they would win the game four minutes from time when Dale Sheridan hit their third goal of the game.

Modeligo’s path to the final is equally as impressive as Roanmore’s.

They opened their campaign with a 1-13 to 0-7 win over last years Western Champions and County Runners up Old Parish, but lost out to Colligan in round two by a goal.

Modeligo got back to winning ways in round three when they had a 1-14 to 2-6 win over Affane and then had a big 4-11 to 0-11 win over Shamrocks and rounded off the league section of the completion with a 0-15 to 1-10 win over Tallow.

In the west of the county the top two teams at the end of the group stage of the competition play a league final and get byes to the semi final. In a local derby clash Modeligo for the second time lost out to Colligan again by a goal, this time going under 1-11 to 0-11.

In the semi finals Modeligo recorded an excellent 1-17 to 1-9 over Old Parish and on Saturday afternoon last they made it third time lucky against Colligan as they ran out 3-14 to 2-10 winners at Fraher Field.

Colligan must surely be asking themselves what they must do to win a major final after this game as they have now lost the last four Western Junior Hurling Finals and two of the last three Western Junior Football Finals that they have appeared in since 2013.

Roanmore in this game will be looking to their goal scorers from their win over Ferrybank, Shane Nolan (2) and Dave Sheridan for a repeat performance this time around while they will be looking to the likes of Brian Nolan, David Barrett, Charlie Chester, Paul O’Sullivan, Emmett O’Toole, Tommy Aldridge, Frank McGrath and Dean Reidy for big performances.

Modeligo will be looking to much the same players that contested the County Intermediate Hurling Final to see them through this game which will mean they will be looking for big performances from the likes of Patrick, Seanie and Nicky O’Donovan, Shane, Jamie and Michael Troy, Brian and Kieran McCarthy, Thomas and Pa Walsh, Padraig McCarthy,  Pat Fitzgerald, Sean Hennessey, John McGrath, Robbie Buckley, and Cian O’Byrne for their guidance.

Inter County hurler Tom Devine lost out on a place in the recent County Intermediate Hurling final loss to Portlaw recently with a serious hand injury which is expected to keep him out of contention again this time around and he will prove to be a big loss as many regard him to be a better footballer than a hurler.

There can be no disputing that the best two sides in the county this year are involved in this years final, but their can only be one winner. Modeligo playing on a field that they are very familiar with and with their more experienced footballers will be expected to win here which will make up somewhat for their county intermediate hurling defeat.