Before the main course of St. Peter’s Dunboyne v Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday lunchtime in Páírc Tailteann comes a very tasty looking appetiser in the LMFM MFC Div. 4 Final between Kilbride and Na Fianna.  

A repeat of their encounter in Round 1 which saw the Enfield/Baconstown side emerge as narrow winners, the expectation is that Sunday’s Final will be another close encounter.

That Round 1 loss proved to be Kilbride’s only defeat in the Championship and Sunday’s game will continue their proud record in recent years of qualifying for Minor Championship Finals. This will be their fourth year in succession to have made it to the final which is testament to the hard work being put into the club throughout its’ juvenile ranks.

It will come as a surprise to some in the county to see Na Fianna in the Division 4 Final as only a couple of years ago they were in the Division 1 decider. Such is the way of life in clubs where the playing numbers aren’t overly big though and with most players splitting their time between football and hurling it can be difficult to operate at the top table every year.

Both sides have struggled to round up the troops at different stages of the season, with some matches having to be played with reduced playing numbers but one suspects that won’t be an issue come Sunday with players relishing the opportunity to show off their talents in Páirc Tailteann. Kilbride will look to key operators such as Cian Harford who has been a rock at centre back to date as well as the twin attacking threats of Ben and Brian Donnelly to inspire their side.

Lining up opposite them will be a Na Fianna side with two members of the Meath Minor panel which reached the All Ireland semi-final. Luke Kelly was brilliant at full forward for the county side but is likely to operate in a defensive role on Sunday. It would be no surprise to see him venture forward at regular intervals. Oisín McCloskey who so often was introduced to games over the summer with the Meath Minors will operate around midfield while another key player to date has been Ciaran McDonnell who is a wily operator in the forward line.

Verdict: Powered by their Meath Minors, Na Fianna to bring home the Dara Maxwell Cup.

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