Warm N’ Cosy Homes Roscommon JFC Final Replay: Creggs v Kilglass Gaels on Saturday in Strokestown at 4 pm (extra-time if required)
Given what happened in the drawn game this is probably the most difficult of the three major adult finals to predict. Creggs were hot favourites last time but it looks a real 50/50 affair now. Kilglass came to Strokestown to win last time out and they almost pulled it off too.
Creggs never got their fluent attacking game going in the drawn game, mostly because Kilglass didn’t allow them to get into any kind of rhythm. Kilglass looked a really powerful side and it would have been a major injustice if they had not got at least a draw out of the game. There were some passages of great football from Creggs in the drawn match but they needed those two first half goals they got because Kilglass really came at them in the second period.
Ciaran Dowd at full-back for Creggs will have his hands full again with Pierce Bolger, who was probably the best player on the field in the last game. Creggs’ joint captain James McKeague will once again have a huge role to play on Saturday while Colin Canny and Tom Fleming struggled at times at midfield and they will be hoping for a better showing this time around. Ger Dowd will also be hoping Shane Dowd, Enda Conneran and Enda O’Rourke will provide the vital scores this Sunday. But Creggs now know that unless they up the ante they will be extending their 33-year wait for a junior title.
Kilglass were excellent in the drawn game: Leo Cox and Tommy Cox led from the back but it was in midfield that Kilglass were most impressive. Richie Dooner and Barry Conroy were joined by Diarmuid Connellan and Gavin Tully to win possession and that could be the key for the Rooskey outfit again on Saturday. Pierce Bolger was the best player on view in the drawn game and any repeat of his superb performance this Saturday will go a long way to clinching the cup.
I backed Creggs to win the drawn game but I am not as confident this time. It was an enthralling match last time out and don’t rule out extra-time this time around because there is nothing separating this pair.
However, if Creggs can play the way we have seen in the championship before the drawn game they might just edge it! Kilglass will be delighted to hear that I am going for Creggs. This is a game that I am really looking forward to.
Prediction: Creggs.
