Stakes increase but Reilly determined to treasure every moment

After what was the proverbial game of two halves, Kilmeena manager John Reilly had no problem admitting that some of his players may have underestimated the ability of their Leitrim opponents, in Sunday’s provincial quarter-final at MacHale Park.

It was probably the only explanation for how having lost the first-half by two points, the Mayo champions were able to win the second by 24.

“Perhaps our players may have disrespected Annaduff’s ability at the start of the game,” said Reilly. “Annaduff are a quality team and are physically strong and big men. Annaduff had a game plan and they had the likes of Darren Cox, and they scored some frees and were five points up on us at one stage.

“Our boys had to grind it out and I think in the second-half, once we got to grips with their kick-outs, we dominated from thereon in.

“We got a fortuitous second goal with a ball into the box, and after that their body language changed. However, for our lads heading into the Monivea game, we cannot play like that again,” the manager warned.

“We were happy going in at the break only two points down. I said to the lads that there is no shouting about it, the reality is you are in senior football now and you have to take this game by the scruff of the neck. We went through a few pointers that we needed to work on and we dug it out in the end and the lads that came in really proved themselves today.” 

The game is likely to be of significant benefit heading into next Sunday’s Connacht intermediate semi-final against Monivea-Abbey, given the Galway champions have had no game since beating Kilconly in their county final by three points.

Reilly is relishing the challenge that awaits his troops at the home of Galway football next Sunday (1.30pm in Tuam Stadium).

“It is a great place to be. I know Tuam Stadium very well – I went to St Jarlath’s College and played a lot of football at that venue. There is nowhere else you would want to be next weekend.

“I know that John Donnellan was here today trying to pick us apart, and we are looking forward to a good battle against them. We treasure every moment of this.” 

Donnellan is part of an impressive backroom team at Monivea Abbey, with manager Francis Roche also having his son-in-law Michael Farragher on board as team trainer. In an interesting aside, Farragher is still playing for Corofin and is likely to see game-time against Ballina Stephenites next Saturday before trying to also plot Kilmeena’s downfall 24-hours later.

Kilmeena will know they have a massive job on their hands; in winning the Galway intermediate crown, Monivea Abbey returned to the senior championship at the first time of asking having been relegated twelve months earlier, and their 0-14 to 0-11 victory over Kilconly was even achieved in the absence of 2022 All-Star and Footballer of the Year Cillian McDaid who was injured for the game. It was Kilconly’s second time in-a-row to lose the final.

The other semi-final will be played at Markievicz Park next Saturday, November 18 where Easkey take on Castlerea St Kevin's. Throw-in is at 1.30pm.