Glin Rovers and Dromore United battle it out in Limerick Desmond Cup final

THE Desmond Cup Final takes place this coming Saturday night, May 20 in in Mick Hanley Park, Clounreask. Kick-off is down for 7.30pm.

This season we will have the novel pairing of Glin Rovers and Dromore Utd contesting the leagues Blue Riband competition. It has been a fairy-tale season for Dromore in their first season as a club since Kildimo Utd and Pallaskenry amalgamated, they have already won the Division 1 League Cup while their youth’s side annexed three trophies, namely the Youths Div 1, the Div 1 League Cup in addition to the Desmond Youths Cup.

The sides have met once already this season when they crossed paths in the first round of the Munster Junior Cup, Glin winning 2-1 in Pallaskenry in the final on a number of previous occasions with no quarter asked or given. Kick-off is pencilled in for 7.30pm. Both sides are still in a position to win a double.

Abbeyfeale, have already acquired the premier division title and went unbeaten through the season and will be very keen to remain unbeaten in the Desmond Cup. For their part Newcastle West Town will have a date with Broadford Utd in the final of the Premier Division League Cup after a five two win away to Glin Rovers last Friday night.   

Last season was the first Desmond Cup Final post Covid and was very well attended and with the novel pairing of Glin Rovers and Dromore Utd this season should bring another good crowd to league headquarters. Glin always have great support and I’m sure Dromore won’t be found wanting in this regard either.

This final will be different now that Joe and John have retired as groundsmen in Clounreask and I must take this opportunity in acknowledging the hugh contribution both have made to the league down through many, many years. Sean and Mike have now assumed the mantle of groundsmen and we wish them well going forward.

Paths to the Final:

Dromore Utd

1st Round: Breska Rvs B 1 Dromore Utd 2 (Evin Kelly, Eoin Mulvihill)

2nd Round: Abbeyfeale Utd 0 Dromore Utd 1 (Tiernan Meaney)

Quarter Final: Dromore Utd 3 Kilcornan 0 (Ciaran Deegan, Tiernan Meaney, Ciaran Galvin)

Semi Final: Dromore Utd 1 Rathkeale 0 (Shaun Barry)

Glin Rovers  

1st Round: Broadford Utd B 1 Glin Rovers 6 (Zach Behan 3, Jack Boland 2, Paul Sheahan (pen).

2nd Round: Shannonside B 0 Glin Rovers 6 (Gary Culhane 2, Paul Sheehan, Gary Kelly, Shane Culhane, Zach Behan)

Quarter Final: Glin Rovers 1 Newcastle West Town 0 (Paul Sheehan)

Semi Final: Glin Rovers 1 Feenagh 0 aet (Tadgh Culhane)

Dromore Utd scorers to date - Tiernan Meaney (2), Evin Kelly, Eoin Mulvihill, Ciaran Deegan, Ciaran Galvin, Shaun Barry.

Glin Rovers scorers to date - Zach Behan 4, Paul Sheahan 3, Jack Boland 2, Gary Culhane 2, Gary Kelly, Shane Culhane, Tadgh Culhane

On paper debut finalists Dromore Utd had the toughest progression route to the final having faced three premier sides along the way. In the first round they were drawn away to Breska Rovers B of division three and won 2-1 with goals from Evin Kelly and Eoin Mulvihill.

Then came their first real challenge and that was away to holders Abbeyfeale Utd and while the defending champions weren’t as strong this season they still provided a formidable challenge for Dromore. It was a very close game that was decided by a Tiernan Meaney goal in the 75th minute.

Another premier side awaited them at the quarter final stage and that was a tie at home to Kilcornan where goals from Ciaran Deegan, Tiernan Meaney and Ciaran Galvin capped off a very solid performance and a 3-0 win.

 The biggest hurdle now awaited Dromore when they faced premier division leaders Rathkeale and here they rode their luck on occasions and had to soak up a lot of Rathkeale pressure. In the first half alone Rathkeale had about 90% possession but didn’t transfer this into goals as their keeper Aaron Hogan had literally nothing to do.

Rathkeale dominated most of the second half but were undone from a set piece when Shaun Barry scored from a corner. Dromore soaked up more Rathkeale pressure and it wasn’t their night when a bullet header by Sean O’Shea was somehow tipped over by Gary Sheehan.

 On paper Glin definitely had the easiest route to Clounreask. In the opening round they were away to Broadford Utd B of Division 3 and won six one with goals from Zach Behan (3), Jack Boland (2) and a Paul Sheahan penalty.

As luck would have it Glin were also drawn away to another Division 3 side in the second round, namely Shannonside B who were shock first round winners against Granagh Utd. No such shock on this occasion as goals from Gary Culhane (2), Paul Sheehan, Gary Kelly, Shane Culhane and Zach Behan gave Glin a 6-0 win.

Next up was a quarter final tie at home to Newcastle West Town and which was a repeat of the 2009 Desmond Cup Final which Glin prevailed in.

This was a tight game and Glins toughest thus far and was a game which lacked a degree of quality but that wont bother Glin as they scraped a one nil win, the only goal scored from a corner by Paul Sheehan in the last fifteen minutes. 

In the semi-final it must have felt like 'groundhog day' for Glin as they were about to face another division three side in Feenagh who were creating history by appearing in their first Desmond Cup semi-final following a shock win over Broadford Utd in the last eight.

It must be said that Feenagh gave their biggest challenge on their run to the final. On that night in Clounreask Feenagh had the chances to score on a number of occasions and it wouldn’t have been a surprise if they had converted some of them. While Glin didn’t play particularly well they found a way of getting over the line with Tadgh Culhane getting the only goal of the game in the second half of extra time

Who will win the 2023 Weekly Observer Desmond Cup Final?

That’s the burning question on the lips of supporters of both Glin Rovers and Dromore Utd and indeed I guess on the minds of football followers throughout the league. Glin, managed by Ambrose Lanigan and Anthony Collins will be endeavouring to bring the Desmond Cup back to the banks of the Shannon for the first time since 2016.

On the other side of the coin Shane O’Sullivan and Damien Neville will be hoping to round off an excellent debut season with another trophy to add to the Division 1 League Cup.

Naturally Glin will go into the final as favourites but will have to up their game a notch or two from their semi-final performance against Feenagh where they struggled to create any really good chances on a consistent basis. I certainly wouldn’t underestimate Dromore who showed great resilience in the face of strong Rathkeale pressure to claim their place in the final. 

Glin have scored fourteen goals en route to the final which is exactly double what Dromore scored but all but one of those were against division three opponents. Statistics can be interpreted many ways and we have heard on many an occasion that you can only neat what is in front of you and that is a fair point.

From a Dromore perspective two of their wins were by 1-0 score lines but both of these were against premier division opposition, namely Abbeyfeale Utd and Rathkeale.

Glin will be captained by Marty McSweeney with their line up I’m expecting to be along the following lines. Mike Stack is a certain starter between the posts for Glin and in front of him will be the experienced defensive combination of Tadgh Culhane and brother Gary with the full back positions probably will be Brian Donovan and Shane Culhane.

In midfield Tommy Culhane should also be a certainty in central midfield with Jack Sheehan on the right while the in-form Zack Behan on the left. Paul Sheehan will lead the line up front and he knows all about scoring in Desmond Cup finals having scored twice in their cup success over Newcastle West in the 2009 final.

Glin have always given youth a chance and have some nice young players to call on like Ajay Behan, Jack Boland and Conor Shine and they won’t be found wanting if and when they will be required. Other experienced players at their disposal are Garry Kelly, Sean Lyons, James Wallace and Christy McSweeney.

Dromore will be captained by the experienced Barry Walsh who will marshal their defence. It is anticipated that either James Ranahan or Garry Sheehan will be between the posts, the latter had a stormer between the posts in the semi-final win over Rathkeale including a last minute save from Sean O’Shea.

Ben Higgins, who captained their youths’ side to the treble should start at right back while Ciaran Barry and Shaun Barry, the goal scorer in the semi-final are expected to make up the Dromore defence. In midfield Dromore have a number of options with Luke O’Keeffe, Darren Walsh, Ciaran Deegan and Ryan Kelly all players of ability while up front Oran Kelly, Ciaran Galvin and Evin Kelly are all potential match winners. With a large squad at their disposal Dromore will be able to change players around.

Glin Rovers Panel: Mike Stack, Tadgh Culhane, Gary Culhane, Brian Donovan, Shane Culhane, Tommy Culhane, Jack Sheehan, Zack Behan, Paul Sheehan, Marty McSweeney (captain), Ajay Behan, Jack Boland, Conor Shine, Garry Kelly, Sean Lyons, James Wallace, Christy McSweeney.

Dromore Utd Panel: James Ranahan, Garry Sheehan, Mike Heavanor, Tiernan Meaney, Ben Higgins, Rory Cullen, Shaun Barry, Darren Walsh, Eoin Mulvihill, Ryan Kelly, Ciaran Deegan, Evin Kelly, Oran Kelly, Cian O’Neill, Cathal Shinnors, Barry Walsh (captain), Luke O’Keeffe, Ciaran Barry, Evan Guinane, Ciaran Galvin, Mossy Sheahan

Verdict: A novel pairing in the second final post-covid and a big crowd is expected past the turnstiles on Saturday night but who will be passing out afterwards with the Desmond Cup.

It would cap a brilliant debut season if Dromore Utd can lift a fifth trophy under the auspices of the Limerick Desmond Football League having already won the Division 1 League Cup while their youths have won the treble.

Glin Rovers have a strong tradition in cup football and once they get to a final are very hard to beat and I think that they may just have enough to get over the line on Saturday night.