Kilmurry face St Nick's in county U21 B football championship final

It will be an early Christmas present for either Kilmurry or St Nick's this weekend.

The two sides face off on Sunday in the McCarthy Insurance Group county U21 B football championship final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh's 4G pitch (2pm).

For Kilmurry, they will look to end a memorable 2024 for the club. They won the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior football championship crown and the Munster title so the U21s will be looking to add another trophy to the cabinet. 

They will start as favourites which is no surprise and also the fact that they come into this decider on the back of an impressive semi-final win over Ballinhassig last Saturday. Kilmurry winning on a scoreline of 4-11 to 4-2.

They won their Mid-Cork crown back in February after an extra-time victory over Donoughmore in the final before defeating Glanmire and Ballinhassig in the county section to reach this stage.

Seán O’Leary and Denis O’Mullane are recognisable faces on this Kilmurry team. The pair starred for the club’s first team in the recent AIB Munster JFC final win over Firies of Kerry. Joe McGinn, Lawrence Asling, Joe O’Mullane, Alexander Asling and Rory Duggan are also important figures on this team.

St Nick’s might be a surprise package but they have fully deserved their place in this weekend's showdown.

They are managed by former Cork senior football selector Des Cullinane as they look to give football a shot in the arm for the club after a difficult few years.

They got the better of rivals Na Piarsaigh in early March in the City final before defeating Liscarroll/Churchtown Gaels and O’Donovan Rossa respectively in the county quarter-final and semi-final.

That win over O’Donovan Rossa was particularly eye-catching, winning on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-6 two weeks ago. Jack O’Sullivan hit 1-6 (0-5 f) that day.

Ben Heffernan and Fiachra O’Driscoll are integral in defence with Cork hurler Rob Downey a commanding presence in the middle of the pitch.

Up front, danger man O’Sullivan is ably supported by the likes of Eolan O'Leary, Rhys Dunne and Jake Brosnan.

A fascinating decider in store with Kilmurry getting the nod to claim the honours. It will be far from easy though.