World Footy News

The climax of the 2009 Australian Rules Football League of Ireland sees two Dublin rivals contesting the Grand final. Minor premiers and defending champions the Dublin Demons will go into the game as favourites having led the ladder all season. However the South Dublin Swans are also in confident mood, having started the season poorly (with 3 losses in their first 4 matches), they have won their last 5 games, including a close semi final victory over the Midland Tigers.

Having won the Grand Final last year the Demons began the season in flying form marking them out as the team to beat. The season opener saw them beating the Swans 41 points to 30 and they continued to win all their first four matches. They came unhinged when fielding a much weakened team in the return fixture against the Swans and lost by a massive margin, over a hundred points. Impressive wins against the Tigers and the Dublin Saints was sandwiched by another hundred points defeat, away to the Leeside Lions of Cork.

Following the poor start to the season that huge victory against Demons is the result that turned the Swans season around. Although their three wins against the Mullingar Tigers are the results that have shaped their season. A tight win at home, followed by a nervous two point victory away in the regular season was followed by another close encounter in the semi-finals. The Tigers led by 15 points at half time and could well have won but for the Swans playing their best football of the season in the third quarter to progress.

The Leeside Lions proved to be the enigma of the year. They played and won their four home games comfortably; playing some of the best football from any team in the league. The disappointment lay in their inability to fulfil any of their away fixtures as a result of a lack of numbers due to work, holiday and GAA commitments. This is a pity as at full strength they are truly a force to be reckoned with.

As mentioned above this was the year of what could have been for the Mullingar Tigers. They are a stronger side than in recent years and a lack of numbers for the bench in the semi final was their only weakness on the day. The same can be said of the Dublin Saints, their current squad is their strongest in years and they will be looking to build on their 2 wins from this campaign.

There has been mixed success in the planned expansion of the league. A nine-a-side conference was played this year to help several clubs get established and hopefully make the transition to play in the premiership in the near future. Teams from Belfast and Clare put in good performances and showed with more numbers they would be more than able to make the step and be competitive. Dennis Kennelly, cousin of former Sydney Swans Tadhg, has been leading a team from Kerry while also playing with the Lions in the Premiership.

The Premiership remains the number one competition and the title of champions will be hard fought for this week. The two sides have always been keen cross city rivals and both sides will feel that they have a great chance of victory. The Demons will be aware that no team has topped the ladder and gone on to win the grand final since 2006 and this was the last time the Swans were champions. With all to play for, let the battle commence.