St Finbarr's footballers back in Munster looking to create more special memories 

St Finbarr’s selector Ian Keeler says his team are ready to attack the provincial championship after claiming glory on Leeside.

The city club won the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC title three weeks ago after a four-year wait. They now face Clonmel Commercials tomorrow in the AIB Munster Club SFC quarter-final in Clonmel at 1.15pm.

The Togher club won the provincial title the last time they competed in Munster back in the 2021/22 campaign.

“The final was a fantastic win for us, we got everything that we expected from Nemo Rangers,” Keeler says.

“It was a very close game, it went down to the wire. Luckily enough we got over the line and obviously there were great celebrations for a few days afterwards. You have to let everybody enjoy the occasion and celebrate the win.

“We went back training at the start of last week, just to get lads back on the pitch. We let them off for the first week after the final.

“When the lads got back on the training ground, they had parked the county victory. They are experienced enough to know that you celebrate when you need to celebrate, but then once you get back training, it’s a case of heads down and working hard. 

"We know how tough of a game this will be in Tipperary, so the group understands that preparation is key.” 

St Finbarr’s have had three weeks to prepare for tomorrow’s encounter. On the other side of the coin, Clonmel Commercials only won their county championship last Saturday.

“We have a lot of dual players and we had a lot of matches in a short space of time,” the Barrs selector said.

“After the win over Ballincollig in the semi-final, it was the first time this year that we had two full weeks to prepare for the next game. A lot goes into that both mentally and physically and then the emotion of the final. 

"Having the extra week gives fellas a chance to step away from it for the first week and just relax.” 

Keeler was a selector under Paul O’Keeffe when St Finbarr’s won the county and Munster trophies in the 2021/22 season. The Barrs have a rich history in the provincial series having won it on five occasions.

“Winning the Munster in January 2022 was an unbelievable day in Thurles. We went on a great journey after winning the county. We had learnt lessons.

“After we won the county in 2018, we didn’t come out of Munster, so when it came around again a few years later, lads were more focused on having a good run. 

"Now we are back in Munster again, the players appreciate the opportunity that they have because it’s very hard to win a county title.

“You would hope that the past experiences will help us and also in terms of what needs to be done to get over the line in what will be a tough game up in Tipperary.” 

St Finbarr’s opposition Clonmel Commercials certainly won’t be any pushovers especially when they are at home.

They are the only team to have beaten Nemo Rangers twice in Munster.

“You look through Clonmel Commercials’ team and they have a lot of quality. They have also had success in Munster previously.

“They are a very, very good team, a club with a great reputation. It’s going to be a serious test for us and it will be tougher given they are at home.

“We will focus on ourselves, but we have the utmost respect for Clonmel Commercials. It’s going to be a huge challenge to go up there and turn them over.” Keeler ended.