Formbook suggests Dunsany might just have the edge

After being so often the bridesmaid and never the bride one of St Vincent's or Dunsany will finally make it to the JFC altar on Saturday where they will earn their spot in the higher grade for 2022.

St Vincent's were beaten in two of the last three JFC deciders, the odd one out was the year that both finalists were promoted to the IFC and neither the Ardcath men or Dunsany made it to the final in 2019.

Dunsany lost out in the final in 2015 and in 2016, but that doesn't even go close to explaining their tales of woe as they were also beaten in the finals in 2002 and 2009 as well as multiple semi-finals - they really have been the JFC hard luck story of the last two decades.

Last year Dunsany looked capable of making the grade, but they were edged out in the semi-final by Sunday's final opponents St Vincent's.

That contest was close throughout with a freak goal ultimately giving St Vincent's a 1-7 to 0-9 victory, but they couldn't capitalise and lost out to Ballivor in the final.

From the outset the expectations were that, along with Castletown, St Vincent's and Dunsany would be the main protagonists in the JFC.

St Vincent's started the year like they meant business, winning both the 2020 and the 2021 versions of the Tailteann Cup and getting off to a flyer in the championship with a 12-point drubbing of Cortown.

Dunsany also signalled their intentions early on with a big tally in their comfortable win over St Ultan's and that ability to post excellent returns, apart from in the slip-up against Moynalty, has further enhanced Dunsany's reputation.

They scored 2-16 against St Ultan's, 1-17 against Slane, 1-18 when defeating Kilbride and 2-17 in their semi-final hammering of Carnaross in atrocious conditions.

St Vincent's haven't been quite as prolific, but they have been equally effective adding wins over Kilbride and Castletown in the group stages before seeing off Moynalty in the quarter-final.

That ability to get the job done was evident in the semi-final win over St Ultan's when they overcame a very tough opponent to advance after extra-time.

However, who will have the edge?

Using last year's semi-final meeting as a gauge there will be very little between the teams, but to follow this year’s formbook then Dunsany might just have the edge.

Both sides faced St Ultan's and Kilbride at various stages of the campaign. Dunsany had 17 points to spare over St Ultan's in their opening game. In contrast St Vincent's needed extra-time to see off St Ultan’s, albeit a vastly improved St Ultan’s side, in the semi-finals by 0-16 to 2-9.

In round two of the JFC St Vincent's had four points to spare against Kilbride, but in the quarter-finals it was Dunsany who hammered Kilbride by 1-18 to 0-8.

All the indicators points to a Dunsany victory. However, form tends to go out the window as finals take on a life of their own. Both sides are very experienced at this stage of the championship, but it looks like Dunsany might have a greater balance and might finally make it across the winning line.

JFC PATHS TO THE FINAL

Round one - St Vincent's 1-11, Cortown 0-2; Dunsany 2-16, St Ultan's 0-5.

Round two - St Vincent's 2-12, Kilbride 3-5; Dunsany 1-17, Slane 1-7.

Round three - St Vincent's 0-11, Castletown 1-5; Dunsany 1-7, Moynalty 2-5.

Quarter-final - St Vincent's 1-16, Moynalty 0-11; Dunsany 1-18, Kilbride 0-8.

Semi-final - St Vincent's 0-16, St Ultan's 2-9; Dunsany 2-17, Carnaross 1-4.