Kilmeena set for All-Ireland glory
GAA AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB JFC FINAL PREVIEW
By Aiden Henry
MAYO and Connaught junior football champions Kilmeena are seeking to complete a treble when they travel to Croke Park on Sunday (February 6) to take on Kerry and Munster champions Gneeveguilla in the All-Ireland junior club final.
Throwing in at 1.30 p.m., this final has all the ingredients for a classic encounter as both teams have been very impressive – lethal, indeed – on their journeys to the decider.
In their respective semi-finals last Saturday, both more or less their final spots booked by half-time as they both held a 12-point lead. In the end, Kilmeena and Gneeveguilla ran out easy winners and now these two hot-shot sides will go head-to-head on Sunday in what is expected to be a cracking encounter.
The big question now is can Kilmeena overcome their Kerry opponents and make up for the club's one-point defeat the last time they contested a junior final way back in 2003. The answer is an emphatic yes.
While we are well aware of the dominance of Kerry clubs in this grade at All-Ireland final level (Kerry teams have won five out of the last six finals), this Kilmeena side is as good as has come out of Mayo to represent the county in the Connacht and All-Ireland series for a very long time.
Since winning the county final they have been untouchable in their travels. They had two huge victories in Connacht before being crowned champions, and as we all saw last Saturday, they just blew Offaly and Leinster champions Clonbullogue away in the All-Ireland semi-final.
OCCASION
While it is a huge occasion for the Kilmeena club, the players' focus is on winning the final. That was very apparent when the club held a press night on Sunday.
All the club officials, players and management who attended the event were singing from the same hymn sheet, saying that all their energy was been put into making sure the team is in the best possible shape for the decider.
The message coming loud and clear from the club is that they don’t want to end up being second best in the final for a second time. As team manager John Reilly said: "It is great for the team to get playing in Croke Park. But at the end of the day, it is only a venue, and all our focus is on winning the final. That is what matters."
As for the game itself, we know this is going to be Kilmeena’s biggest test. Playing this Kerry side in Croke Park, or any venue, was never going to be easy. By all accounts they are a quality team and, like Kimeena, have been very impressive in every game they have played – not least in the All-Ireland semi-final victory over Cavan and Ulster champions Denn last Saturday.
As one Kerry reporter stated: "In front of the sticks they were stone cold, cutting Denn’s defences asunder time and again, particularly in the first half when they plundered four goals, exploiting the space, working the passes and finishing like stone cold killers."
However, as one who watched Kilmeena defeat Clonbullogue in their semi-final, I could say exactly the same about Kilmeena.
Yes, we know Gneeveguilla are a very good side, but they haven’t come up anything as good as this Kilmeena team yet.
Overall, this could prove to be one hell of a final. The Kerry side will go into the game as favourites to win, which suits Kilmeena down to the ground.
However, I think Kilmeena have a lot going for them. The wide open spaces of Croke Park will suit them. They are strong in every department of the field, starting with a very good goalkeeper backed up by a solid defence.
In front of them are good midfielders and six forwards who are all capable of knocking over scores.
If Kilmeena can settle early and keep these busy Kerry forwards from getting early scores, they will go on to take control of this final with every minute that passes. Kilmeena have the team to win this decider and I think they will.
Verdict: Kilmeena