Killererin' spirit could prove vital in big showdown

Date Published: 17-Nov-2010

FRANK FARRAGHER

THEY’LL probably use it as motivational fuel this week, even though it’s a defeat that still hurts Killererin deeply . . . November’s second Sunday in 2007, when Roscommon champions St. Brigid’s put four goals past them on their way to a 4-10 to 1-11 Connacht semi-final victory.

It was still a very special day for one Padraic Joyce – who will land back on Irish soil on Saturday after his honeymoon – as despite being on the losing side, he delivered a man-of-the-match performance ending up with a personal tally of 1-9.

Not many honours have eluded Padraic Joyce over the past dozen years or so but one of them is a Connacht club title and the triple All-Star winner will be hoping to repeat his heroics of three years ago when he lines up against Brigid’s in the Connacht club final at Tuam Stadium on Sunday (2.0).

Kiltoom based St. Brigid’s will again pose a major challenge for Killererin, having annihilated Sligo champions Eastern Harps by a 17 point margin in the first round of the provincial series, although they didn’t have it all their own way against Glencar-Manorhamilton in the Connacht semi-final.

Brigid’s have really established themselves as the Roscommon club team of the past decade, with a three-in-a-row of county final victories in the middle part of the decade, allied to a Connacht final success over Corofin in Hyde Park in 2006, thanks to a late Karol Mannion goal.

The Roscommon champions are used to success and in that 2006 campaign, they ran the eventual All-Ireland winners – Crosssmaglen Rangers to a one goal margin of victory – in the semi-final. Brigid’s have loads of ambition to back up their talent stream and won’t come to Tuam with any sense of inhibition.