*Éire Óg corner back, Ronan Lanigan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ÉIRE ÓG will challenge for a place in the Munster club senior football final when they take on Kerry champions Kerins O’Rahillys this Sunday.
Paul Madden’s side make the journey to Tralee for the 1pm start with a place in the provincial decider the prize for the victorious outfit.
A devastating third quarter which included a 3-05 rally without reply saw the Ennis side on their way to a 3-11 0-05 win against Waterford champions, The Nire in Cusack Park a fortnight ago.
For that tie, Jarlath Collins was handed a starting jersey at the expense of corner forward Philip Talty, the Harty Cup medallist impressed with an industrious display that saw him fulfil a deep role. Talty a student at Mary Immaculate College did well on his introduction, kicking 0-02 during his thirteen minute appearance.
Whether this is sufficient for him to reclaim his starting jersey remains to be seen while the return of David Reidy to their panel is another lift. The Clare hurler was centre forward on the side which won the Clare SFC in 2021 but only made his first competitive appearance of the year when brought on two weeks ago, having focused solely on hurling up to then.
On the task ahead, Madden told The Clare Echo, “We’re going down to the home of the All-Ireland senior champions with about five of those lads playing with Kerry, they will be favourites but we’ll turn up anyway”.
For their county final win over Templenoe, Kerins O’Rahillys welcomed back star players Jack Savage and Cormac Coffey into the fold. The pair are presently living and working in Dubai, having moved there since the group phase of the club championship. Savage kicked 0-06 while corner back Coffey also raised a white flag in their 0-15 0-14 win.
David Moran’s battle with Darren O’Neill in the centre of the field plus the showdown of Tommy Walsh versus Aaron Fitzgerald are among the anticipated match-ups for the weekend.
