Two years after losing the Munster final on penalties to Castlehaven, Dingle are back in the provincial decider against another Cork club, St Finbarrs
Dingle players Matthew Flaherty (14), Billy O’Connor and Mark O’Connor, right, look to claim the ball ahead of Jack McCarthy of Mungret St Paul’s in the Munster Club SFC semi-final at Austin Stack Park in Tralee. Photo by Sportsfile
A little less rain, and a playing surface more like a football field and less like a swimming pool would be a good start. After that, Dingle would probably prefer if their second appearance in a Munster Club SFC final doesn’t go to extra-time and a penalty shoot-out, like their first one did. Still, as long as they can go one better than two years ago and win the club’s first provincial title they’ll take the roulette from the penalty spot. They will take the monsoon rains and aquaplaning too, if it comes to it.
Twenty-four months ago Dingle put up a courageous fight in their first Munster Club final appearance only to lose to Castlehaven in a penalty shoot-out on a dog-day afternoon in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds. Two years on and it is Cork opposition again in the provincial final, only this time Dingle are meeting the Cork champions St Finbarrs as equals. This time the team from West Kerry are county champions in the Kingdom, and this time one feels they might be somewhat better prepared for the challenge.
