*Éanna Rouine & Padraig O’Dwyer will renew acquaintances this weekend. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
The curtain will come down on the club playing season in Clare on this Saturday when North Clare neighbours Ennistymon (Holders) and St. Breckans meet in the under 21 A football championship final at Shanahan McNamara park in Doonbeg at 2pm.
As both sides put the finishing touches to preparations for the game, they have injury concerns.
Top scorer for St. Breckan’s Jamie Stack is a major doubt. He suffered a leg injury in their semi-final win over Western Gaels/Doonbeg and he has been wearing a protective boot since then. A final decision on whether or not he will play a part in the final won’t be made until nearer match time.
Otherwise the Lisdoonvsarna side will have a full strength panel available for selection, Their team is managed by Colin Calllaghan with Neil Hawes as the coach and Frankie Sheedy as a selector while the backroom team also includes senior team players Jack Sheedy, Tristan O’Calllaghan and Cian Burke. The side is captained by midfielder Denis O’Callaghan.
St. Breckans were defeated in the final four years ago losing to the Kilmihil/ Shannon Gaels combination while they won the B title two years ago and both of those teams were also coached by Neil Hawes.
Brendy Rouine hasn’t played any part in the title holders (Ennistymon) march to the final because of injury and there is little chance of him playing at any stage on Saturday. James Cullinan missed their semi-final win over Kilrush/Killimer and didn’t line out for Inagh/Kilnamona in the hurling final last week. He is rated extremely doubtful for Saturday’s final as is another dual player, Sean Rynne.
Diarmuid Fahy has played in the games leading up to this final after he returned to action following an injury which saw him miss much of the season. He is expected to be in the team on Saturday.
The Ennistymon team is managed by Brendan Rouine and his backroom team includes Ger Quinlan, Shane Talty and Tom Ahern. The team is captained by goalkeeper Conor Gallagher.
As holders of the title Ennistymon will carry the favourites tag into this final but football followers across the county are divided as to who will be taking home the Jim Marrinan memorial cup.
However all are in agreement that this game has all the ingredients for a cracking contest and it is expected that there will be little between them at the final whistle. If the talented Jamie Stack is fit to play it will represent a massive boost to St. Breckans.
