From just nine players to Cloud 9 for Brian and the Blues

For a man who has been there for Kiltimagh’s highest of highs and their lowest ebbs, this Mayo junior ‘A’ title was a sweet one for Brian Gallagher.

He was there in 2009 and 2010 when Kiltimagh last lifted the Pete McDonnell Cup and went all the way to Croke Park to contest the All-Ireland final. But it had been a ‘tough few years’ for the Kiltimagh team up until Sunday.

“We barely struggled to get a team out there about two years ago, but this year it has clicked back into life,” said the man they call ‘Chucky’.

“We've got good numbers at training. We've had 30 lads training all year round and that's helped us really to build a squad. As you can see with subs coming on today, they're just as good as the starters and it's a huge day for Kiltimagh. A huge day.” 

Brian Gallagher said that at one stage Kiltimagh only had nine players and were relying on guys over 40 to fulfil games in the Mayo Senior League. He paid tribute to manger Mick Regan for coming in and turning things around.

“Mick stepped up when no one wanted it, so Mick deserves absolutely huge credit. He's stuck with us through thick and thin. Mick is not originally a Kiltimagh man but honest to God, he has Kiltimagh blood pumping through him and he deserves absolutely all the credit today.” 

The final win is all the more remarkable given Kiltimagh were mere seconds away from playing in junior ‘B’ championship instead. They were beaten by Tourmakeady and Northern Gaels in the group stage but went through on score difference after Kilmovee Shamrocks conceded a late goal against Tourmakeady.

That scare would be the making of them. They edged out Shrule-Glencorrib in the quarter-final before defeating Ardagh in the semi-final.

“We didn't perform on the day against Northern Gaels, very disappointed. We regrouped after that, a lot of talking, a lot of training and honest to God, going up to Shrule, we were ready for them, and we put in a decent performance that day. I actually thought we should have won that game by six or seven points on the day, scraped through by one.

“That maybe kind of helped us sneak under the radar for the semi-final against Ardagh. We rode our luck against Ardagh in the first-half but second-half then, we're a much better team against them.” 

Gallagher also lauded the impact off the bench to finally end the resistance of Eastern Gaels, with Aidan Cosgrove kicking 1-2 late on.

“Aidan has moved to America. He's only missed three games for us so his fitness wouldn't be an issue. Liam Smyth came on and played a stormer. [Eoghan] Lavin came on and clicked a few balls. Jack Mahon has been unlucky not to start today. We knew we had lads on the bench.” 

Before intermediate football in 2026, where Gallagher feels they are ‘well able to cope’, the Connacht junior championship awaits. Sunday’s Player of the Match said their run to the 2009 All-Ireland final were ‘special times’ to Kiltimagh and it would be ‘absolutely magic’ if they could repeat it.

“I was lucky enough to be part of it and that was a real rollercoaster, the best of times in Kiltimagh. It’s hard to believe, I don't know how many years ago it is now but you still remember it fondly and to go on something like that again would be absolutely magic.”