O'Neill and Mooncoin primed for Croker clash

The countdown is on to this afternoon's All-Ireland Junior Club hurling final between Mooncoin and Ballygiblin.

Mooncoin have enjoyed a hugely successful season that has seen them collect Kilkenny and Leinster titles thus far and they will be hoping to achieve the holy trinity this evening.

Martin O'Neill has been one of the main stars in Mooncoin colours over the last few months and he can feel the excitement ahead of today's final.

"It's absolutley brilliant, the whole parish is buzzing and there is green and white flags everywhere and even the crowds that are up at our training sessions are amazing.

"It's just great to be part of it all", O'Neill said ahead of the final.

The 22 year old defender was only 16 when Mooncoin lost out to Mayfield in the 2017 All-Ireland final and he's hoping to make his own memories after watching on a few years ago.

"I was at the game and I can remember Mooncoin getting beaten but I was only 16 so i wouldn't have felt the loss as much as some of the players did but it was obviously a hard defeat to take and hopefully we can get the job done this time round.

"There's a good few lads still hanging around from that game but overall our team is pretty young and there's 7 or 8 of us on the starting team that are still under 21.

"None of us would have  been part of the panel back then so it's a great chance for us to make up for the final a couple of years ago".

While Mooncoin only played in their last Junior final five years ago, the experience of playing in Croke Park will still be all new for a number of the side including O'Neill.

" This will be my first time playing in Croke Park so I can't wait to experience the buzz and even going into the dressing room with all the lads will be unbelieveable.

"Playing with all your friends in the best stadium in Ireland is what you grow up dreaming about and it's a real privlege if we are being honest", said the former Kilkenny Under 20 star.

Mooncoin's foward threat has set them apart from all opposition over the last few months and O'Neill admits that it's a great luxury knowing they have the calibre of Patrick Walsh and Adam Croke in attack.

"It's been an unbelieveable journey so far and the forwards have been fantastic all year, Patrick Walsh has been banging in goals left, right and centre for us all year and he scored 3-6 in the Leinster Final against Shamrocks.

"We have great scoring ability in the forwards and we are just hoping we can keep it going".

Things have just clicked for Mooncoin over the last few months but O'Neill doesn't think there has been a magic formula involved and it's just been getting lads together at the right time.

"We've been unlucky over the last few seasons with a couple of lads getting injured but everything has just clicked for us this year  and ever since our first game against St.Patricks of Ballyragget we've won all our matches and the mood around the squad has been brilliant 

"Everyone on the team has been 100% commited all year and that shows now as we head to Croke Park".

Another trip to Croke Park for Mooncoin and they hope to be leaving with an All-Ireland title this time round.