Mossy Quinn (St Vincent’s)
Just scan back over Mossy Quinn’s scoring record for St Vincent’s this season. 0-6 in the drawn Dublin final, 0-5 in the replay win over Ballymun, 0-7 in the Leinster opener against St Loman’s, 1-8 in the Leinster semi-final against Summerhill, 0-8 as they win the provincial title over Portlaoise and 1-8 the last time out against Ballinderry on the All-Ireland stage.
That’s a total of 2-42, with 0-28 from placed balls, stretched across his last six games. St Vincent’s have on average got 0-8 out of Quinn every time he has taken to the field. He’s been their attacking star, popping up with big scores at big moments. The former Dublin player is the main threat that Castlebar will want to nullify.
Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels)
A hugely versatile player, Feeney has bounced back strongly from the disappointment of Mayo’s defeat in last September’s All-Ireland showpiece. Firstly he helped Castlebar Mitchels win their first Mayo county title in two decades before influencing their Connacht campaign where they claimed the scalps of Corofin and St Brigid’s. In the latter game Feeney bagged a vital goal.
Castlebar maintained their surging run when they took down Dr Crokes in last month’s All-Ireland semi-final. Feeney struck 0-2 in that game in Portlaoise and having won the best player award in Connacht, he is clearly a player in form. After injury travails recently, Castlebar will hope he is in full fitness for Monday’s showdown.
Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s)
It’s been a difficult club campaign for Diarmuid Connolly. He was sent off in the Dublin final replay against Ballymun and incurred the suspension that left him watching on for the games in Leinster against St Loman’s and Summerhill.
But the class of the attacker is undoubted and he expressed that when weighing in with 0-3 in the semi-final success last month over Ballinderry. Indeed it was his 82nd minute equaliser that saved St Vincent’s way back in early November last year when he struck over the point that tied them with Ballymun in the drawn Dublin final. His big game experience will be important on Monday.
Eoghan O’Reilly (Castlebar Mitchels)
Last October’s Mayo county final contained an intriguing subplot in the presence of the O’Reilly brothers Eoghan and Tommy in opposition on their respective Castlebar Mitchels and Breaffy sides. Eoghan won the bragging rights as Castlebar won by 1-11 to 0-8.
He’s been an assured presence in defence for the Mayo club since then with impressive displays at centre-back. O’Reilly was on the Mayo minor team that lost the 2008 All-Ireland final to Tyrone after a replay and his recent form saw him get a call up for the FBD League in January for the Mayo seniors. Could come back into the frame for James Horan’s squad after Monday.
Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s)
Brennan has flitted in and out of the St Vincent’s team since their Dublin final win with a combination of suspension and injury ruling him out of some of their games. He watched on the last day against Ballinderry but is back to fitness after struggling with a stomach muscle injury.
His importance to the St Vincent’s team is clear and he made a hugely valuable contribution to their Leinster final win last December. If called upon on Monday, he’ll have a big role to play as he returns to the site of last September’s glory with Dublin.
Tom King (Castlebar Mitchels)
King enjoyed an interesting sporting weekend in late October last year. On a Friday night, he lined out in defence for Mervue United as they lost the First Division promotion playoff against Longford Town on penalties. Two days later, he was parachuted into the starting team for Castlebar Mitchels as they featured in the Mayo county final.
King rewarded manager Pat Holmes as he shot 0-4 in that game against Breaffy. He showed his scoring touch again with 0-6 hauls against both Corofin and St Brigid’s and 1-3 last time out facing Dr Crokes. An elusive attacker that St Vincent’s will need to watch close to goal.
