Roscommon Herald IFC Final Michael Glaveys v St. Dominics (Sunday in Athleague at 1.30 pm). The Form: St. Dominics beat Eire Og in their first game before scraping past Fuerty to reach the quarter-finals. They played well in the quarter-finals against St. Ronans before beating St. Croans by a point in what was a dour semi-final. Michael Glaveys beat Shannon Gaels and Tulsk in their group games before beating St. Michaels by two points in a competitive quarter-final. They defeated neighbours Eire Og in the semi-final after an impressive performance. The Managers – Michael Glaveys: Joe Garvey; St. Dominics: John McGowan. The Odds: Michael Glaveys 4/5; St. Dominics 5/4; Draw 13/2. Key Players – St. Dominics: Michael Finneran, Liam Murray, Mark Miley, Aidan Weir, Conor Fallon. Michael Glaveys: Stuart Daly, Eugene Coggins, Kevin Cummins, Thomas Finnegan, Alan Daly. The Call: If the only way to predict the outcome of this final was by reference to the formbook, then Glaveys would be the clear choice – but club championship finals are not always as straightforward as that. Glaveys were not expected to be challenging for the title but they are a vastly improved team this year. The addition to their panel of young, talented players like Darren O’Malley, Eugene Stritch and Kevin Cummins has added a sparkle to the team and with the more experienced players like Eugene Coggins, Stuart Daly and Thomas Finnegan, this is a formidable Glaveys team under the excellent guidance of Joe Garvey, Johnny Coggins and Ger Dowd. They have been excellent in most of their championship games this year and are deserved favourites to take the title on Sunday. It’s been a very stop-start season for St. Dominics. They have mixed the bad with the good and it is a great credit to John McGowan, the management team and the players that they are back in the final again after losing out after a replay last year. The key to this final will lie in the battle around the centre of the field where there are some very good players on both sides. For Dominics, Aidan Weir, Liam Murray and Michael Finneran will be hoping to hit top form, while for Glaveys, Stuart Daly, Alan Daly and Eugene Coggins will all be aiming to exert their influence on the midfield diamond. The oldest cliches in the book are always the most accurate and it is a fact that the team who wants it most on the day will win this title. It would be heartbreaking for St. Dominics if they lost another final but as we know there is no sentiment in sport. Glaveys themselves would dearly love to get back into the senior football championship, where they feel they belong. On their best form Dominics are a formidable and strong team but Glaveys look to be the more consistent side and I take them to shade what I expect will be a close and well-contested final. Prediction: Michael Glaveys.
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