Fr Caseys looking to end 'barren spell' in Limerick football final
A win on Sunday and the Fr Casey Cup will return to Abbeyfeale for the first time in two decades
FR CASEYS manager Keith Hartnett has described Sunday’s Irish Wire Products Senior Football Championship final clash with Kildimo-Pallaskenry as the club’s “toughest challenge to date”.
The Abbeyfeale men travel to the Mick Neville Park showpiece event with a 100% record in the competition this year, overcoming somewhat of a slow start to eventually secure a comfortable semi-final win over Monaleen.
“Obviously there was huge relief there after getting the victory in the semi-final, a tough task against Monaleen,” Hartnett said. “So look, it seems to be shaping up fairly well.
“The town is starting to come up with a bit of colour, so we'll drive it on now.
“They're after three huge tests there between Adare, Newcastle and Mungret. To beat three county champions is huge so it'll be a tough task, no doubt.”
Finishing top of the group meant a bye to the county semi-final - however, this may not be quite the prize it is shaped up to be.
“I suppose if you're fortunate enough to win a quarter-final, you come into the semi-final with a good test behind your belt and you know you're probably that bit of sharpness there.
“Whereas if you're not (after playing) for the four to five weeks, I suppose you're a bit sluggish to get going and release the dirty diesel and things like that. So it showed the last day and the first half there. We didn't get going for a while and I suppose that was evident to the five-week break.
“So look, we were fortunate enough to get over the line in the finish up, so it wasn't too bad overall.”
A win on Sunday and the Fr Casey Cup will return to Abbeyfeale for the first time in two decades.
“A year is long, never mind 20 years,” said Hartnett.
“We hold ourselves to a high standard in the senior ranks at Limerick and it has been a tough couple of years, but again, we have a tough test against us, against Kildimo-Pallaskenry. Just because we've topped the group and doesn’t automatically give us the right to think that we’ll go on and do it.
“We'll just have to give it our best shot and hopefully we can in the barren spell.”