MSL soccer: Roy Kenny and Ringmahon Rangers fired up for FAI Intermediate Cup final clash with College Corinthians

Ringmahon Rangers will go into Saturday's FAI Intermediate Cup final against College Corinthians looking to banish the heartache of losing last year’s decider.

The Munster Senior League side were beaten 3-2 by Glebe North after extra-time having travelled to Drogheda for the decider as favourites to keep the trophy on Leeside following Rockmount’s back-to-back victories in the previous two years.

The Mahon side are favourites once again to win the trophy for the first in the club’s history and for midfielder Roy Kenny, the pain of last season’s defeat has been a major motivating factor in their quest for glory this season.

“Losing to Glebe last year really stung and we were extremely disappointed,” Kenny said.

“It lit a fire in us to do better this time around and at the start of the season we, as a group, discussed it and it is a trophy that we really want to win because the club has never won it.”

Ringmahon began their campaign with a comfortable win over Everton, but they have arguably had the more difficult path to tomorrow’s final.

“We have played a lot of big Dublin sides, as well as Rockmount to get where we are. We beat Everton and Rockmount away, but we were lucky to get home draws against Malahide, St Mochta’s, Usher, and Liffey Wanderers, so playing in Cork has been a big advantage and hopefully we can get over the line tomorrow.

“We know Corinthians so well, and we know they will be tough to beat, but we are confident we can do it. It’s a cup final though, and we might be favourites, but anything can happen in a final.”

Kenny is a Ringmahon man through and through, having played all of his schoolboys football with the club.

There have been stints at Cork City and Cobh Ramblers before he returned to help Ringmahon win the Beamish Stout Senior First Division title in 2016.

The midfielder enjoyed lots of success at schoolboys level with a Ringmahon side that included current senior team-mates Eric Grimes and Anthony O’Donnell as well Irish international Alan Browne.

“We had a lot of success in league in cups at underage level, but we never won a national trophy, and we would love to achieve that goal,” Kenny added.

Since being promoted as first division champions in 2016, there has hardly been a season when Ringmahon haven’t won a trophy, but the big two of the senior premier division title and the FAI Intermediate Cup have eluded the Mahon outfit.

This season has been their best so far having already annexed the Donie Forde Trophy and Keane Cup, and they are hoping to add to their haul with involvement in four other competition this season, including the league title.

The immediate focus, though, is on Saturday's game with Corinthians who they have met three times this season — wins in the Munster Senior Cup and Keane Cup, while they recently drew 1-1 in the league.

Since their semi-final win over Liffey, Ringmahon suffered a dip in league form in the league which saw them lose to Midleton and St Mary’s — their only league losses this season which ended with a big 3-0 win over Rockmount in their most recent outing.

It was a timely result ahead of tomorrow’s game.

“We had a bit of a blip in the league recently,” Kenny admitted.

“We had a few injuries, though that’s not an excuse, but every team has a bad spell, and we have had a brilliant season so far, and hopefully it will continue on Saturday.”

“There’s a great buzz around the club and the community; we had big support in last year’s final and we will have big support again on Saturday.

“The club have organised an event on the morning of the game at our grounds; there will be music and face-painting for the kids as part of the build-up and it will be part of what should be a great occasion.”