Preview- Toughest test of the season awaits Mooncoin’s hurlers

For the second time in six seasons, all roads will lead to Croke Park as Mooncoin get set to play in the All-Ireland junior hurling club championship final.

Just like in 2017, when Mayfield subjected the South Kilkenny side to a devastating one point loss, it will be Cork opposition standing in the way of that elusive national crown.

That shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone either, as both Cork and Kilkenny have dominated the grade since its inception in 2003.

In fact only Blackrock of Limerick in 2010 and Kickhams Creggan from Antrim in 2014 have won the title outside of the traditional powerhouses.

It’s a competition that has been extremely kind to Kilkenny in particular with Galmoy, Danesfort, Conahy Shamrocks (2), Thomastown, St Patrick’s Ballyragget, Bennettsbridge, Glenmore and Dunnamaggin all tasting success for nine victories in total with all bar the Galmoy win occurring in Croke Park after they defeated Oran of Roscommon in Semple Stadium, Thurles in 2005.

As well as those wins the likes of Blacks and Whites (Skeoughvosteen), Tullogher-Rosbercon, John Lockes (Callan) and Mooncoin themselves have all been beaten in deciders.

In comparison Cork have been successful on five occasions with Mayfield, Dripsey, Meelin, Fr O’Neills and Ballinhassig taking home silverware while Charleville and Russell Rovers are beaten finalists.

Mooncoin will be desperate to make it 10 junior All-Ireland crowns for Kilkenny on Saturday evening. With a number of experienced players from 2017 still around they certainly won’t be lacking in any sort of motivation.

From the minute the sliotar was thrown in for take off in the Kilkenny championship Mooncoin have been in a world of their own.

Willie Coogan’s men sauntered to the crown. The final against Tullogher-Rosbercon was their biggest obstacle when they overcame a slow start to run out confident winners.

From there it was on to provincial action and while the cliff got a bit higher when needing extra-time to defeat Tara Rocks of Wexford, they still found a way to come through while there was wins either side of that over Oliver Plunketts of Westmeath and Shamrocks of Offaly in the Leinster final.

The All-Ireland semi-final then saw Mooncoin lock horns with Salthill-Knocnacarra and as expected, the Kilkenny side had way too much firepower for their opponents.

Mooncoin won out 2-26 to 0-11 with John Fitzgerald and Kevin Crowley finding the net for Willie Coogan’s side.

Mooncoin have been on a real crest of a wave over the last few months and the influx of a number of younger players into the squad has certainly helped.

A lot of those younger players were on show in the recent under-21 county championship and that distraction hasn’t hindered them in reaching this stage of the competition.

Mooncoin have been bouncing up and down between the junior and intermediate grades in recent years so they will be hopeful that an All-Ireland victory can prove to be the catalyst for bigger and better things.

On the game itself, they do have an injury worry over Martin O’Neill who went off injured in the All-Ireland semi-final victory.
O’Neill is crucial to the Mooncoin cause so they will be doing all they can to get him fit for 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

As well as O’Neill, much will be expected of Mairtin Gannon, Patrick Walsh, Ciaran Quilty and Adam Croke as the club looks to make the vital last step to All-Ireland success.

Mooncoin go into the game as slight favourites but Ballygiblin possess plenty of talent in their squad and they will need to be watched very closely.

When it comes to talent at junior level it doesn’t come much bigger than Mark Keane.

The 21-year-old has spent the last four years playing Australian Rules Football but earlier this month he parted ways with his club Collingwood as he returned to Irish soil.

Keane is also known for scoring the last gasp goal in the torrential rain at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in 2020 that knocked Kerry out of the Munster Football Championship.

The Ballygiblin man plies his trade at centre back and the fact that he has committed to the Cork senior hurlers for the upcoming season illustrates just how big a threat he is. Mooncoin will need to curb his influence as best as they can.

As with any side that wins Cork and Munster titles, Ballygiblin are about much more than just Keane though with a couple of underage county stars coming to the fore.

One of those players is Darragh Flynn who only recently won an All-Ireland under-20 title with Cork while Sean and Conor English have also represented the Rebels and Tipperary respectively.

No more so than Mooncoin with Martin O’Neill, Ballygiblin also have doubts over Darragh Flynn after he got injured before the Munster final that curtailed his involvement against Skeheenarinky of Tipperary.

He subsequently didn’t feature in their big semi-final win over Fullen Gaels at MW Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

The Cork club side is captained by Fionn Herlihy while full-forward Sean O’Sullivan is a big scoring threat.

Mooncoin know what awaits them when they enter GAA HQ on Saturday but backed by a village that has been decked in Green and White over the last few weeks, they will feel that their time is now.

A fascinating encounter awaits, throw-in from Croke Park on Saturday is 3pm.