David ready for Goliath Ballina

It was only three years ago that Knockmore joint-captain David McHale last lifted the Paddy Moclair Cup but when you fall short at a quarter-final, then a semi-final, before finally breaking through into a final once again, 2021 feels an age ago.

Of course, the wait is exacerbated by having to watch that crowd down the road, Ballina Stephenites, stake their claim as the best club in the county but this Sunday gives Knockmore the chance to get one over on their neighbours on the grandest stage in Mayo club football.

“2021 isn’t a long time ago but it feels like a lifetime ago to us, it is a long time in club football. It is great the fact that we’re back again with almost a new group under a new set of managers,” David told the Western People.

Three years have also brought many changes around Knockmore. Ray Dempsey called it a day with Knockmore two years ago after Moclair success in 2020 and 2021 and in his stead, two names were stenciled in on the office door nameplate: John Brogan and Aidan Kilcoyne.

“John and Aidan are very different managers to what we were used to with Ray. They are two young fellas starting off early in their coaching careers but I’ve played a lot of football with the two of them. They’re two fantastic coaches with a real edge about them, they’ve brought us along,” said David.

With injuries and players unavailable, there has been the need to strengthen the overall panel at Knockmore, something David feels the club has accomplished well and he pointed to some of the minor players making their breakthrough as prime examples of the new Knockmore.

“We needed to deepen our panel a bit and we’ve done that and since the minor season finished, those players have stepped in really well. You seen it the last day against Breaffy with the likes of Billy Ruane and Darragh Staunton. There are three or four don’t have game time yet that have really added to it.”

“Back in 2020, it was famously said that we had a few 18-year-olds on the team that year and they’ve all come through but now we have another crop coming through almost out of nowhere.”

There were more than a few doubts cast about Knockmore after they lost their opening round game to Ballaghaderreen but in retrospect, that result said more about the strength Ballagh’ had this year rather than any glaring problems with Knockmore. All the same, David said there were leaders within the squad who stepped up to ensure that no negativity set in for the Saffron & Blue.

“It was a very rocky start. When you lose your first round game in any grade, it sets you up on the back foot straight away but we managed to regroup.” “There was a stage in the second half against Belmullet where we were in a relegation battle but we came through that and then a quarter-final and a semi since, so we’ve not only turned it around, but we also got a bit of momentum going as well.”

“It is only natural to get the negative thoughts, especially when you lose the first round of championship but we have a good few leaders in the squad. It was on us to lead it and push it on and use it as a stepping stone rather than something that holds us back.”

He expects a real battle against Ballina and whether the game is played at a wide open, blistering pace or is a tight affair ala last year’s final, David does not think there’ll be much to separate the north Mayo rivals.

“I don’t think there’ll be more than a kick of a ball in it either way. Sometimes games take on a life of their own and it could be cagey or we might both end up going for it but either way, there’ll only be a kick of a ball in it I think,” he said.

Putting the rivalry aside, David said he has a great respect for Ballina and what they have accomplished in the last few years and said they are one of the most complete club sides in Mayo with strength all over the pitch.

“They’re county champions for a reason, they’re a fantastic side who have been steadily improving for the last couple of years, even before they won last year, they had lost a final to Westport.”

“We’re under no illusions about how tough it may be. They have threats all over the field. You can come up against some teams who might have a standout forward but Ballina are strong in every line. We’ll have to get our gameplan right.”

“We both came through absolute humdingers of semi-finals where we both thought at different stages we were finished, so while that will give us strength, their experience will give them strength.”