By Larry Cooney

 

A year after narrowly missing out to Longford in a thrilling Division 3B final, Warwickshire will contest another league decider when they face Louth in Trim on Saturday.

No mean feat given Tony Joyce's Lory Meagher winning side of last year lost marquee player Liam Watson in the close season.

But in Niall McKenna (2-33), Warwickshire has unearthed an impressive forward of top quality and along with Galway trio Paul Hoban, Shane Caulfield and Paul Unicake, and Cork men John Collins and Michael O'Regan, they look set to be a formidable force in this year's Nicky Rackard Cup.

But after their toughest test of the campaign in their Round 3 clash in Darver last month, Warwickshire know that Louth will be another stern test on Saturday, powered as they are by Clare native Niall Arthur (7-41).

"This is a talented team but it also has tremendous battling qualities as it proved against Louth when the team was down to 13 players," Joyce told the Irish World.

"Any team with the scoring potential of Niall Arthur has to be considered dangerous opposition and we realise that fact, but Louth will also be saying the same things about our Niall McKenna.

"Niall and club-mate Garry Lennon along with Domhnall Nugent have fitted in well to the Warwickshire attack and I expect them to be equally effective in the final."

 

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