Epic decider expected between Mayo and Roscommon contenders
Following their respective victories in the AIB Connacht GAA Intermediate Football Championship semi-finals last weekend, Kilmeena and Stokestown will meet in the final in what is generally expected to be a cracking decider on Sunday, writes Aiden Henry.
The venue once again is Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, with throw-in at 1.30 p.m.
It is no big surprise to see Kilmeena and Strokestown meeting in the final. Both were very impressive in their county championships, and both were earmarked to do well once they had conquered all in their own counties. They will head into the final full of confidence, which sets us up for one hell of a cracking game of football.
In recent years Kilmeena have mixed the good with the bad. Back in February 2022, they made history when they were crowned the All-Ireland junior champions after defeating Kerry's Gneeveguilla in the final at Croke Park. It was a victory that will long live in the memory of everyone who was in Croke Park that day.
Kilmeena then went on to contest the Mayo intermediate championship in 2022 and gave it a great go only to lose to Ballyhaunis in the final. However, they were back for more in 2023 and this time came out on top against Ballinrobe in the decider.
In 2024, the west Mayo men played senior football for the first time. However, things did not go as they would have hoped. To say Lady Luck deserted them that year would be an understatement. As a result, they dropped back down to the intermediate grade for 2025.
Yet they regrouped and responded magnificently, winning the county title and going on to reach the Connacht final. It takes some spirit in a club to achieve that, and we can be damn sure they will not be happy unless they continue their winning ways.
Strokestown have had a somewhat similar run to Kilmeena. In 2022 they won the Roscommon senior championship title. However, in 2023 they were relegated back down to intermediate. Last year saw them reach the Roscommon intermediate decider only to lose to Elphin. However, like Kilmeena, they came back again this year and regained the intermediate title. They, too, will not want their season to end just yet.
The final is sure to attract a bumper crowd to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Sunday but the burning question is: Which of these teams will come out on top?
Kilmeena have been very impressive in their Connacht campaign so far. In the quarterfinal against Galway champions Caltra they used all their great experience to carve out a win in Tuam. Last Saturday they were far too strong for the Sligo champions, Coolaney-Mullinabreena.
Although it will again be a fast turnaround for Kikmeena (their third game in as many weeks), they will be chomping at the bit for the decider.
“Never in the history of the club has a team been at this level of football – a Connacht intermediate final," said manager Damien Egan. "It's important to state that fact. We'll tear into it (the final). It's good to have a game again this weekend.
“This is new territory but the graph is continuing to rise in the club; it hasn't plateaued at all.”
Meanwhile, Strokestown have only had to play one game to get to the final, which was against Leitrim champions Allen Gaels whom they beat by 2-16 to 0-16 in Roscommon last Saturday.
They didn’t have all their own way, despite what the scoreline might suggest. After scoring two first-half goals when playing against the wind, the gloss on their win was applied thanks to four late points.
While I expect it will be very tight, I think Kilmeena will edge it as they are a well-balanced side and know what it takes to win big games. Their greater experience in the last few years should get them over the line.