Jimmy Lee’s side were beaten in the final of last year’s competition, but were successful in the semi-final against Sunday’s opposition.
After a hard-fought Limerick SFC final win against Adare (3-5 to 0-13), Newcastlewest are in action again this Sunday as they face Tipperary victors Clonmel Commercials in the Munster Club SFC Quarter Final in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 1.30pm.
The game will be live streamed on Munster GAATV, powered by StreamSport for anybody who can’t attend for €10.
These two sides met in the Munster Semi Final last year in the same stadium where the Limerick champions won by 1-16 to 1-11 after extra time.
Ruadhan O’Connor brought Newcastlewest to extra time with a last-minute point while it was Emmett Rigter who got the decisive goal on that occasion.
The Limerick side hit just three wides in the game last year, the kind of stat they need to replicate to win out again.
Eoin Hurley, who hit 2-4 in the Limerick final and 3-30 in the championship this season, will be the go-to man for scores.
Iain Corbett adds top inter county experience while Rigter, Bryan Nix and Aaron Neville add youthful vibrance to the Limerick champions.
Mike McMahon, the 38-year-old stalwart, will be the prime target man once again and will add more experience.
Newcastlewest have averaged around 2-9 per game and their goals were vital in the county final.
At the other end, they have conceded 0-9 per game. Don’t be surprised if Newcastlewest go for the juggler multiple times on Sunday.
NCW last five games:
1-12: 0-5 v Claughan
2-10: 0-11 v Kildimo Pallaskenry
1-17: 0-6 v Oola
1-9: 0-6 v Monaleen (Semi-final)
3-5: 0-13 v Adare (Final)
Clonmel will be out for revenge though and with Tipperary stars Michael Quinlivan and Sean O’Connor in their full forward line, they will be a threat for anybody.
O’Connor in particular needs to be kept tabs on. He scored 1-2 in the Munster bout in 2022 and has hit 4-12 in the Tipperary SFC this term.
Quinlivan scored 3-9 in the county championship and if given space can cause serious damage.
Their other notable players include the four Kennedy’s, Colman, Jack, Conal and captain of the team Seamus.
Kevin Fahey is another serious operator in the half back line while Michael O’Reilly is an excellent goalkeeper to possess at club level.
The Tipp champions scored six goals in their county final win over JK Brackens (6-7 to 2-6), one of only two county senior football final clubs to score five goals or more nationwide.
The other side was Gowna from Cavan. In fact, Clonmel have scored 19 goals in six championship games.
They have average 3-14 per game in their county championship while conceding an average of just 1-6.
Clonmel Commercials last five games:
3-18: 0-2 v Eire Og Annacarty
3-19: 0-4 v Drom & Inch
4-17: 0-7 v Ballina Tipperary
0-14: 0-11 v Moyle Rovers (Semi-final)
6-7: 2-6 v JK Brackens (Final)
Judging by the two sides’ scorelines in this year’s championship, this encounter should be highly entertaining.
The winner of this game plays Kerry side Dingle at home in the semi-final on November 26th.
