MUNGRET St Paul’s have already defied expectations once in the Limerick Senior Football Championship this year, dethroning Adare in the semi-finals.once in the Limerick Senior Football Championship this year, dethroning Adare in the semi-finals.
Now they hope to go one better in this Sunday’s decider against Newcastle West.
The city side are expected to have a huge number of backers from St Paul’s National School in Dooradoyle, where their captain is sixth class teacher John Hutton.
While there was shock after Mungret beat favourites Adare to make the final, the school’s administrative principal John Tuohy said it was “not that unexpected” in the club.
“Within Mungret St Paul’s themselves, I think deep down they thought they would make a final this year. The way it worked out, they are delighted,” he said.
There are three former St Paul’s boys set to line up for Mungret, inter-county star Jason Hassett, Ciaran Uwatse and Colin Rochford.
“They would have played underage football for us,” John said. “It’s exciting for them, for us and for their families. We think they will give a very good account of themselves.”
The red-and-white clad team are aiming to make football history and win their first county title.
The closest they have reached up to now was in 2001 when they lost to Dromcollogher-Broadford in their only previous final.
“It’s not every day this happens,” principal John acknowledged.
“It’s the culmination of a lot of years of hard work from Mungret, bringing underage teams through and bringing young girls and young boys through the ranks to play with the senior teams. It’s fantastic. And to have one of our staff involved is an even greater incentive!”
John took a minute to remember Raymond O'Hagan, the former principal of St Nessan’s National School and a vice-president of Mungret St Paul’s GAA Club, who sadly died in 2019.
His son Kevin is Mungret team manager on Sunday, with throw in set for 3.30pm at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.
“Football was Raymond’s number one game. So it would be a dream come true for him if his son was part of a team which won a county. It’d be a great achievement for his family,” said the St Paul’s principal.
Kevin’s son, midfielder Darragh, an inter-county player for Limerick, is also set to appear for the club.
His brother Eoin is also on the extended panel.
Asked how he thinks Mungret will get on, John predicted: “It will be a tough game. Newcastle West are very experienced. But I think Mungret will bring a fresh approach. It will be a very tight game - and you’d be hoping Mungret would shade it!”
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