Epic contest expected between pair of former senior outfits
Bonniconlon native Damien Egan is in charge of Kilmeena this season, with the West Mayo side looking to make a swift return to the senior championship ranks. Picture: Conor McKeown
It is a Kil’ or be Kil’led scenario that is in front of Kilmeena once again? Having done enough to see off Kilmaine in the last eight, the 2023 Sweeney Cup winners now hope to end Kiltane’s run and return to senior football.
Like Cill Chomáin, who fell to Kiltane in the quarter-finals, Kilmeena and Kiltane have avoided each other in the championship given that Kilmeena has bounced between intermediate and junior while Kiltane were senior from 1972 to 2021 (bar a year in 2013 when they were relegated to intermediate), but they have met in the league the last two years, with Kilmeena winning both games. But league and championship are two very different animals.
Not spectacular by any means, Kilmeena’s form in this season’s championship so far has been very solid, built on the character and resilience shown in winning not just junior and intermediate county title in recent years, but their historic breakthrough when winning the 2022 All-Ireland Club junior title.
They have proven to be second-half specialists, coming from behind to defeat both Burrishoole and The Neale while they upped the gears to see off Cill Chomáin with relative comfort.
Their half-back line of Colin Hastings, Stephen Staunton and Jack Mulchrone is a solid as any left in the Sweeney Cup race. The influence of midfielder Jack Carney has grown game by game in the championship while the attacking trio of John McGlynn, Darragh Slattery and Darragh Keaveney can turn a game on its head – and their know-how in going the distance could prove to be the difference.
However, if there is an area where Kilmeena can be exploited, it is in defence – and opponents Kiltane certainly have the weapons to hurt them. Kiltane have a forward unit that can hurt any team in the county, although one of their biggest weapons in Mayo U20 star Josh Carey is likely to miss this match due to suspension after being shown a red card against Cill Chomáin.
Yet they still have former Mayo panellist Mikie Sweeney and former All-Ireland minor winner Tommy ‘Goals’ Conroy in the attack, along with Ben Donoghue and Charlie Ginnelly.
John Ginty also returned from injury and got a crucial second-half goal that effectively killed the quarter-final and could potentially take up Carey’s role if manager Shane Lindsay deems it necessary.
The Erris men put everyone on notice with their group win away to the hotly fancied Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin as well as their five-goal haul against Islandeady which put them into the quarter-finals with a game to spare. Excitement was at a peak when they were drawn against neighbours Cill Chomain and the manner in which the Blue and Yellow handled that potentially tricky challenge was most impressive.
A big crowd will descend on Knockmore for this one. Kiltane will ask Kilmeena their biggest questions to date but the latter’s answer will be their experience, which is likely to be the trump card.
