St.Josephs Miltown senior side will have their biggest game in a number of years on this Sunday when they face Shannon Gaels in the Cusack Cup Division 1 league final. Both teams recorded surprise wins in their respective semi finals last week and will enter the game full of confidence. Miltown still have a long injury list and players who would be starters like Dessie Molohan, Kevin Burke, Shane and Brian Curtin will sit the game out. However, the management team of Michael Neylon, Martin Flynn and John O'Malley will place their faith in the team that performed well against Doonbeg last Sunday. Shannon Gaels enter the final as favourites but all involved will feel confident that victory can claimed if Miltown can reproduce their form from the last ten minutes against Doonbeg for a more prolonged period on this occasion. The following is the preview of the game as taken from the hoganstand.com website:
Division 1 (Cusack Cup)
St. Joseph's Miltown v Shannon Gaels
The main prize on offer this weekend sees the meeting of St. Joseph's Miltown Malbay and Shannon Gaels. Both sides upset the odds to qualify for this final with St. Joseph's narrowly defeating Doonbeg and Shannon Gaels overcoming the holders Kilmurry Ibrickane. Ironically Shannon Gaels could have been battling it out in Division 2 this year only for the county board to review the relegation structure from Division 1. It is a unique pairing in that neither side has contested a Cusack Cup final in recent years, you have to go back to 1995 when St. Joseph's last contested a final while it's nearly another twenty years since, 1976 to be exact, then that the Gaels were involved in a Cusack Cup decider. Back in 1995 the St. Joseph's Miltown men won their sixth ever league title with current team manager Michael Nealon the victorious captain. He was joined on that team with his fellow selectors, Martin Flynn and John O'Malley. Similarly the last time the Gaels contested a final they won it, back in 1976 they claimed a third league title for their club when they overcame Doonbeg. Indeed the 70's was a great time for the Labasheeda based club as they also claimed two county senior titles in the early 70's and followers of the Gaels will be hopeful that they have a team capable of capturing for senior championship honours. The same can be said of Miltown who last tasted championship success in 1991 and although the talent is there they have failed to live up to their promise when it comes to capturing senior crowns. This weekend's encounter promises to be an excellent game with the Gaels narrowly getting the nod. Both sides have injury worries with both sides hoping that they will have a clean bill of health come Sunday at 7 pm. Miltown will look to the Kelly bothers Gordon and Graham, Eoin Curtin, Enda and Micheal Malone, Michael Barry and Conor O'Loughlin to lead the way. For the Gaels, John Paul O'Neill, Armagh native Barry Toner, Tomas Cleary, John Bermingham, Keith Ryan, Tomas Madigan and teenager Ruairi Norby will lead their challenge.
Verdict: Shannon Gaels
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