Former Limerick star Pa Ranahan enjoying Mungret St Paul's coaching role
FORMER Limerick footballer Pa Ranahan is making headlines off the field this season after helping to guide Mungret St Paul's to Sunday's Munster Club IFC final.
The Ballysteen native joined the Mungret management ticket this season and the club haven't looked back.
Ranahan admits that it's an odd occurence to arrive at training a week before a game and seeing Christmas trees and lights everywhere, but is happy that there is still silverware to play for this late in the year.
“It's a good sign as to where you are,” he told Leader Sport in the lead up to Sunday's decider against Cork's Cill Na Martra in Mallow. “People are interested. I have seen a good few flags in cars and things like that.
"It's a cold time of the year and I'm sure fellas would have a load of other things that they would rather be doing. But it shows that they are interested as they always find a way to the pitch for training and that's a good sign."
Mungret blitzed their Waterford opposition last time out in the Munster semi-final but Ranahan, Mungret's manager Kevin O'Hagan and backroom team of Eoin O'Hagan and Billy Mangan were not happy with how they finished the game. An anomaly they plan on rectifying in Mallow.
“I think it show's where we are,” Ranahan said of the performance against Roanmore. “They are a decent side and will be playing senior football in Waterford next year.
“It was great to get down to Walsh Park. There was a decent Mungret crowd there and to be fair to the club, we were in Mount Sion doing the warm up before hand, breakfast on the way down in Clonmel and a meal afterwards in Waterford city.
“The club is doing everything it can to see this journey go a little bit further. It's very enjoyable. I said after the county final that it is really enjoyable to be around them (the players).
“There are a group of lads there that have a fair idea that they may not see game action, but are still driving it on. They are a group that have really come together on the pitch this year. Winning definitely helps that.”
Mungret have a big challenge ahead of them against their Cork opposition on Sunday. Cill Na Martra are quality operators and will be firm favourites heading into the contest.
“We will have a plan for Cill Na Martra and they will have a plan for us. That's the reality of it. Our plan came together well against Roanmore for the majority of the game. It's all well and good having plans but it's the players that have to go out there and do it.
“They are very good. Having watched them, they have serious footballers all over the field. You don't win a Cork Premier Intermediate football tile without being good.
“You certainly don't beat the ninth best team in Kerry (Milltown-Castlemaine in the semi-final) without being very good. They have a big crowd following them as well and they are mad into football down there.
“John Evans will be driving them on for more success as well. They have been there or thereabouts in Cork for a while so it's not a bolt out of the blue that they are here. The challenge us huge but that's where you find out about yourself.”