Breaffy a stern first Senior test for Intermediate champs Kilmeena

Group 1 – Round 1

Breaffy v Kilmeena

at Breaffy

Saturday, Aug 17 7pm

Since 2013, Breaffy have lost five Senior County Finals, the most recent coming in a drab affair against Ballina Stephenites last year. It is a sorry record to hold and it is one they will someday be delighted to see the back of.

Breaffy are not as good as Westport, Ballina, Castlebar or Knockmore. Yet the tenacity they show to come back time and time again brings them up to a similar level as these stronger clubs time and time again.

At this moment in time, Aidan O’Shea is the best player in the county. He has shown no signs of falling off in terms of ability as he edges closer to his mid-30s but if Breaffy are to go all the way, he will need those around him to step up. On their day, Mattie Ruane and Conor O’Shea are as fine a midfield as any in the county and young Davitt Neary looks a good prospect. Tommy O’Reilly and Colm Flynn can also be relied on to pile on scores in the forward line.

Kilmeena prove an interesting first test for Breaffy. The 2023 Intermediate Champions have been enjoying this decade and have climbed up from Junior, capturing an All-Ireland title along the way.

Over these successful years, attackers like Darragh Keaveney and John McGlynn have come to the forefront. Caolach Halligan joined up last season and had an instant impact, scoring a goal in the county final against Ballinrobe while Mayo star Jack Carney is the jewel in the crown of Kilmeena.

At senior level, the more defensive-minded players like Chris McGlynn, John Ryan and Jack Mulchrone will fancy testing themselves against the likes of Fergal Boland, Aidan O’Shea and Diarmuid O’Connor.

It is hard to imagine Kilmeena dropping back to Intermediate at the end of this campaign but they will probably look towards other games in the group, particularly the home fixture with Aghamore, to pick up some points.

Verdict: Breaffy