'We are under no illusion about the test that faces us on Sunday' says Knockainey ladies football manager John McNamara

SUNDAY'S intermediate ladies football championship final will feature a formidable Knockainey side for the first time in two years. In 2022 Knockainey fell short to rivals Murroe Boher, but this season the squad overcame Boher to book their spot in the county final.

The intermediate final on Sunday will take place at 1pm in Cappamore and will act as double-header of games, with the senior final kicking off at 3:30pm.

Speaking about beating Murroe Boher in the semi's of the championship, Knockainey manager John McNamara stated: "Meeting Murroe in the semi-final's was a big test for us. We seemed to meet them a lot over the years and considering we were beaten in the semi last season it was huge for the girls to get over the line this year and get through to the final.

"It's made the girls more eager to go on and win the county final now on Sunday. Sometimes finals take on a life of their own, but the girls have given us serious commitment all year and getting to the final is probably more than what they deserve for the work they have put in."

Getting to a county final is one thing but trying to come out on the winning side is another and manager McNamara knows the test that's facing his side on Sunday when they come up against Mungret St Paul's for the first time this year. 

The city team topped group two of the intermediate championship and grabbed the second spot in Sunday's final with a narrow two-point victory over Fr Casey's in their semi-final.

McNamara went on to chat about the opposition his side will face on Sunday. "We certainly don't underestimate the challenge that faces us this weekend. Mungret are probably a much more seasoned team, with more experience than ourselves.

"They had a tough challenges against Fr Casey's, but the scores they put up in the group stages seem to be phenomenal so we have a huge test on Sunday."