Kilmeena look for killer instinct to book final spot

GAA: All Ireland JFC Semi-Final

The white and black sails will be hoisted high around the shores of Clew Bay on Saturday morning and the Kilmeena armada will be heading inland towards Longford as they get ready for a date with destiny.

John Reilly's men are just an hour away from a date with destiny in Croke Park, but standing in their way is one more hurdle for them to overcome before they can have a chance to dance in the big house on All Ireland final day.

So far this season, Kilmeena have looked the part, they moved their way through the Mayo championship at their ease, with stunning performances in the group stages, through the quarter-final and semi-final, before they showed the grit and determination to see off a stubborn Cill Chomain side in the final.

Since then they have gone on to put both St Mary's, Athenry, and St Patrick's, Dromord, to the sword, on their way to picking up the Connacht title, seeing off those two sides by a combined 26 points.

While they have played with no little amount of style and grace this year, they have also shown the battling qualities to dig things out when they needed to and they will have to call on all their qualities come Saturday afternoon against Offaly and Leinster champions, Clonbullogue, in Pearse Park.

The Offaly men booked their place in this stage of the competition last weekend with a 5-3 to 1-10 win in the Leinster final against Kildare champions Killcullen. Hitting five goals in any game at that level will have Kilmeena forewarned of the potential potent threat that faces them in attack from their opposition. Keith O'Neill got two goals in that game with Jamie Gunning - another man who will need watching - also chipping in with a goal.

But this Kilmeena side are built of quality materials, with quality footballers in all lines, like John Ryan, Sean Ryder, Niall Feehan, Jack Carney and Kevin Ryder, all top quality operators at this level. They also have plenty of other talent such as Darragh Keaveney, John McGlynn, Keith Joyce and Niall Ryan to call on to get them over the line.

We have seen that if they get on top in a game, Kilmeena know how to keep the foot down and make sure the job is done, no more than in their recent Connacht final win over the Sligo champions and if they can get things right from the get-go, they will take some stopping in the midlands on Saturday afternoon.

 

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