Mullahoran have done things the hard way this season so far.

Paul Fitzpatrick

When tragedies strike, it's often said that it puts sport in perspective. The parish of Mullahoran has suffered greatly recently but their footballers have kept on plugging and, a week before their county final meeting with Kingscourt Stars, selector Danny Brady admitted that he is "glad football has been an outlet".

"It has been six years since we were in the final, there were a few years there in a row ehere we were contesting semi-finals and final regularly," Brady, a member of the famed footballing Gunner clan, told The Celt this week.

"This is the ninth final in 20 years but there was a period there for about 15 years where we were in the semi-final and final nearly every year or every other year. So the fact that it's been six years and there are a lot of new lads coming on board, it's generated a bit of a buzz in the area.

"We've been hit this year particularly hard with tragedies in the parish so I'm glad the football has been an outlet. The fact that we've got to the final has lifted everyone in the parish away from football as well."

Mullahoran enter next Sunday's decider (throw-in, 1.45pm) as underdogs against the in-form Stars.

See this week's paper for full four-page previews, interviews and analysis.