Can Kilmurry make it third time lucky in the Munster JFC final?

On Saturday evening, Kilmurry will attempt to reach the summit of Munster Club Junior football. 

This weekend could potentially be the players last time representing their club in a provincial game as they look to make it third time lucky. The Muskerry outfit have been in the AIB Munster Club JFC for three seasons on the trot, but have been beaten in the last two deciders by Kerry opposition.

Fossa and Listowel Emmets have both proved too strong for Kilmurry as another team from the Kingdom stand in their way on Saturday in the final in the shape of Firies in Rathkeale at 6pm. 

It has been said many times in previous articles in these pages that the team in green and gold are in a unique position. It’s very unlikely that one team will represent their county at Junior level in Munster for three successive years in the future.

Kilmurry have had great fun and memories, but they will be desperate to land that Munster trophy.

The Mid-Cork side represented Cork in 2022 after winning the County JAFC and with the new Premier Junior grade introduced in 2023, the winners of that competition from that point on would be out in Munster.

Kilmurry didn’t win it last year, beaten by St Finbarr’s second team in the final, but reserve sides are no longer allowed to advance any further.

This year, Cormac Linehan’s side made no mistake as they went all the way as they defeated rivals Canovee in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC final last month. There will be no four-in-a-row of Munster campaigns for Kilmurry in 2025 as they will enter into the IAFC.

While that’s something to look forward to for them next year, in the short term, it’s all about Saturday and getting over the line. It’s no surprise that they are underdogs given they are coming up against Kerry opposition once again in the final.

The experience and hurt of the last two Munster decider defeats would have to be motivation and an advantage for Kilmurry. They are a better team because of those disappointments with a strong bench to call upon now too.

One thing is for certain on Saturday, Kilmurry will endure a tougher competitive test of their credentials in comparison to the laboured showing by Cashel King Cormacs in the semi-final. That game didn’t benefit anyone, but Kilmurry were professional in the way they went about it and won 4-23 to 1-2. 

A strong start against Firies will be of utmost priority for the Muskerry men. The team didn’t do themselves justice in the previous two Munster finals. They have the chance to write themselves into foclóir on Saturday and in the process right the wrongs of the last couple of years in the provincial championship. They know it might be their final chance.