Kilmeena favourites to make the jump to intermediate grade

TF ROYAL HOTEL & THEATRE MAYO JFC A FINAL PREVIEW

Kilmeena v Cill Chomáin; Crossmolina (Saturday, November 20; throw-in 12 p.m.)

By Stuart Tynan

A festival of county final football action begins in Crossmolina on Saturday (throw-in 12 noon) as Kilmeena and Cill Chomáin battle it out to see who will be playing intermediate football in 2022.

Last year's runners-up, Kilmeena, are unquestionably the favourites going to this weekend's junior final. They have endured heartbreak over the last two years with defeats to Kilmaine in the 2019 semi-final and the 2020 final, and they look like men on a mission to ensure they make the big step this time around.

Their smallest winning margin has been nine points – in wins over Ardagh in the group stage and Killala in the last eight – but they have been ruthless in their victories over Kilfian, Tourmakeady and in the semi-final against Islandeady.

Reflecting on the wins over Killala in the quarterfinal and Islandeady in the semi-final, Kilmeena manager John Reilly said: "We were very good against Islandeady. We were surprised by the margin in the end but we'll take that.

"The game before that against Killala was in bad conditions. We probably weren't as good as we should have been or where we wanted to be. But the same thing goes for the final. Forget about what's gone and focus on what's present and on what we need to do. We need to improve to take Cill Chomáín down."

The semi-final in Newport was played in tough conditions and Reilly feared with the inclement weather on the morning of the game that it might not have gone ahead.

"I went down that morning to look at it (the pitch) and I swear to God, I thought there'd be no game going on, but conditions did settle down. Underfoot conditions were a bit heavy but for the day that was in it, I think it was the best conditions we could have got for that day so I think we were lucky that day."

Mayo senior star Jack Carney is their most well-known name, but there is an excellent cast alongside him including Niall Feehan (who scored 1-3 in the semi-final), Conor Madden and Sean Ryder.

"Niall is a warrior. He has been penned as a real good prospect for many years. Year on year he is getting better. Conor Madden is always driving standards and Sean Ryder is our captain. We've also lads like Darragh Keavney, who played with the Mayo juniors, and the likes of John Ryan in the full-back line. We've a spread of good players in the team."

Cill Chomáin might not have been on everyone's lips prior to the start of the championship but Reilly believes they are there on merit.

"If you look at the league, they were pushing for promotion to Division 2. They went down to Islandeady and were unlucky against them. They were beating the likes of Davitts, Lahardane.

"Looking at them last year and the year before, these guys were coming. We played them in my first year in the group stages where they were in transition. Two years ago, we played them in the quarterfinal. A different team, and they pushed us hard. Last year against Kilmaine in the semi-final, they could have taken that. This is a team that are building and are definitely there on merit.

"We've done a good body of work but there's no point standing up and looking at it. We have to believe we're good enough to get over the line. We've got young lads coming through and we want to go up more levels to provide more football for them.

"It's going to be a tough one and we know anything other than a win isn't going to be good enough."

Cill Chomáin displayed great battling qualities in their semi-final victory over Shrule/Glencorrib. They will need to be on their game for the final against Kilmeena on Sunday.

While Kilmeena's journey to the final was straightforward, Cill Chomáín's route was noteworthy due to matters outside the club's control. Their group, which included Achill, Kilmovee Shamrocks and Lacken, was turned on its head following Lacken's decision to withdraw from the championship.

That decision, combined with Kilmovee's refusal to travel to Achill, meant a playoff was needed between Cill Chomáin and Achill (who drew in the opening round) to decide who would top the group.

Cill Chomáin prevailed and their reward was a all north-Mayo meeting with Ardagh. Justin Healy's goal was the difference and they withstood a fightback from Shrule/Glencorrib in the semi-final to book their place in the final.

Speaking after that win, manager Paul McGarry (a former Ballina Stephenites player) said: "Delighted to be in the final. If you told me at the start of the year we'd be in a county final, that's what it's all about. I thought we played exceptionally well in the first half. In the second half we died off and let Shrule/Glencorrib back into the game, but that's something to work on.

"Mark Tighe had a goal chance when we were, I think, five or six points up. You can tap them over the bar; you don't need to go for it (goal) when you're that much up. But he went for it, missed it, but overall I'm delighted that we're in the final. They're a great bunch of lads.

Looking ahead to the final, he offered: "It's a two-horse race. Kilmeena were excellent against Islandeady (in their semi-final) so we're well aware of the task ahead. But a final is a final – it's there to be won and we'll certainly be trying to win it.

"We'll work on mistakes from the semi-final – turnovers and shot selection, things like that – and hopefully we'll get everything right."

Not many would have predicted the Erris men at the start of the season to be in the decider but they are there on merit and in Justin Healy, they have a player that can cause Kilmeena problems in the final.

Cill Chomáin will put it up to them but you would expect Kilmeena to justify their tag as favourites win this one with a bit to spare.

Verdict: Kilmeena