It may not be the biggest club game of the year in terms of national publicity but tell that to the players, mentors and supporters of Michael Glavey’s and Claregalway, who will go into this final with high expectations and the formbook suggests that there will be nothing between them in this provincial final.
The fact that a lot of pundits are expecting a classic match probably means that it will be a damp squib but having watched both teams in action, there are plenty of excellent players on both sides that should make for a memorable encounter.
Glavey’s have been the best intermediate side in Roscommon this year. They played some marvellous football throughout the championship until they got to the final when Fuerty almost derailed them. A repeat of that display will certainly not be good enough on Sunday. However, they were back to their very best in the semi-final against Bohola/Moy Davitts and some of their play that day was out of the very top drawer. That’s what Glavey’s will need on Sunday.
Glavey’s will be depending on Darren O’Malley to keep the ‘back door’ closed on Sunday. He is an excellent last line of defence. Shane O’Malley, Gary Patterson, Liam Cregg and Conor Hussey will lead in defence. It will be interesting to see who Iain Daly will detail to mark Danny Cummins.
Caoileann Fitzmaurice and John Finan will have a huge task to get a foothold at midfield. Stephen Comer and Andy Glennon will spearhead the attack while young Cathal Heneghan is a rising star. There is no doubt that Glavey’s have loads of talent. They have to put it together for 60 minutes on Sunday.
Claregalway have come to this final the hard way. They scraped by Williamstown in an exciting Galway final by three points and the very next day they travelled to Sligo and beat St. John’s by two, which was a remarkable feat. Danny Cummins is their best-known name but they have many players with inter-county experience.
The Moran brothers, Barry Goldrick, Brian Donoghue, Conor Campbell, Eoghan Cummins, and Peter Divilly are top class operators and Glavey’s will have to be at their best of they want to win this title.
With the home crowd behind them and on a perfect pitch, I am very hopeful that Glavey’s have the firepower to win this final. If Caoileann Fitzmaurice and John Finan can win the midfield battle and provide a plentiful supply for Andy Glennon and company in the Glavey’s attack, the cup will be heading for Ballinlough on Sunday evening.
I am really looking forward to this final. We have seen some great club matches over the past few weeks and this promises to be another one. Glavey’s to win narrowly.
Prediction: Michael Glavey’s
