Mallow GAA Complex will be its resplendent best this Sunday at 2pm for the staging of the McGrath Cup Final between Cork and Kerry, and the event will have added resonance as two Mallow players are on the panel, James Loughrey and Killian O’Connor. Mallow GAA also hosted the semi-final of the competition last Sunday between Cork and UL, and James and Killian played, much to the delight of the home support, who had the pleasure of seeing a third Mallow player, Billy Sheehan, join the fray for the UL team.
Sunday’s final will be the first of at least two meetings between the counties this year as they will renew rivalry in the final round of the National Football League in April and it looks likely, with the seeded draw in force this year, that they will also contest the Munster senior football final.
A huge crowd is expected at the Mallow venue on Sunday for the first salvo of what could be a very interesting year between the game’s greatest rivals. (See preview on page 59).
It was a good week for the Mallow club at U21 level also, as two members, Ryan Harkin and Killian O’Connor, were involved with the Cork footballers who faced Dublin in a challenge.