There will be a new team lifting the Frank Fox Cup this weekend for the first time in eight years as Moycullen and Mountbellew-Moylough contest the senior football final in Pearse Stadium on Sunday (4pm ).
These sides have met already earlier in the championship when Moycullen were the victors, albeit the game was a dead rubber. It is a difficult one to call though the bookies see Mountbellew-Moylough as 8/11 favourites following their phenomenal 2-13 to 0-12 victory over the champions Corofin in the semi-final.
Despite the loss of John Daly, Cathal Kenny and Joe Bergin to the squad this year, Val Daly still has a wealth of talent at his disposal. The manner in which they dispatched Corofin in the final quarter of the game last Sunday will have them brimming with confidence as they finally eased some of the pain of the last seven years where they lost each season to Corofin.
The players and management will be adamant to ensure their efforts do not go without the ultimate reward.
Eoin Finnerty was in exceptional form, scoring six points from play, and he will most likely attract the close attention of Sean Kelly in what will be a fascinating duel and one that will go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.
Michael Daly and Matthew Barrett have been pulling the strings in midfield all season, and Moycullen will be well aware that stopping the supply into Finnerty and Barry McHugh will be crucial.
Young Patrick Kelly also had a super performance in his debut season as he tormented Kieran Molloy all afternoon, and he looks to be a handful for any defender.
Mountbellew-Moylough’s directness was a massive feature of their play, and with two target men such as Finnerty and Kelly inside, it looks to be the best way forward for them.
Moycullen have been fancied by many since very early on as they have been playing some wonderful free-flowing football.
Young players such as James McLaughlin and Paul Kelly have really stood up this year, offering serious quality, not just going forward but their work rate going back the way as well.
Paul Kelly, who scored 1-1 in Moycullen’s win over Tuam on Sunday, has been one of the standout players of the championship in his roving role around the middle of the pitch. One would imagine he will have to be detailed to someone for a man-marking role as his power and clever movement has wreaked havoc in every defence they have faced so far.
There will be mini-battles all over the park. Mark Mannion looks best suited to stick with Dessie Connely, who is this year's top scorer in the championship with 4-29 to his name. The addition of Owen Gallagher and Peter Clarke to Moycullen as well means they have quality all over the park when perhaps in different years there were a few weak areas which let them down.
Whatever the outcome it promises to be a wonderful encounter.
