A huge challenge ahead admits Kellaghan

Paschal Kellaghan is an experienced manager at this level and the Rhode man, who won several senior titles as a player, knows exactly what it takes to win a senior football final. He has endured it all, the joys of victory and the anguish of defeat, so he’s in a good position to lead Coralstown/Kinnegad into Sunday’s final.

“Finals are not easy; it's hard to get into them and especially when you know you're coming up against a brilliant team like St. Loman’s. Someone said it’s their ninth final in-a-row and they really seem to be improving, and their performances are getting better as the year goes. So, it’s a huge challenge ahead of us, but one that we're really looking forward to,” he said.

“It’s a big day for the club, a long time since they were in a final, too long for such a very proud club. Everyone is looking forward to it and to really enjoying it: there's a great stir around, so I'm really looking forward to it. It gives everyone a lift.”

Kellaghan has learned enough to know that county finals have a habit of panning out slightly differently than expected at times.

“You know, a county final takes on a life of its own really, but it's great for the community, it's great for the club and there’s a lovely crop of young players there just really enjoying playing at the minute. It’s great for a community to have something to look forward to. People maybe abroad as well to be listening in or coming home for a final. It’s just brilliant, it's very special and that's what it is all about,” he remarked.

Kellaghan said preparations have been good, but injury concerns have put added demands on the challengers.

“Things are going very well. We have a couple of bits of injuries; Jason Lynch is running out of time with the hammer; Seanie in goals as well with the hamstring. So, we’ll have to have a look at him over the next seven or eight days and see how he is. Other than that, at the minute we've a clean bill of health.”

His young team have been learning a lot this year.

“I suppose when we came in first we were just trying to get a bunch of players maybe just to buy in and enjoy the training and get a bit of belief into them you know, the majority of them are very, very young and they've come close the last couple of years to getting to the final maybe, I think the year before last as well in the semi-final, so it's just one step further and it’s all a learning experience for them you know,” he said.

“I think the starting age the last day was under 22 which is phenomenal, and I’d say there’s very few clubs that have as young a team, never mind competing in a final so the future is very bright, but when we're here we want to go hard at it. We've trained very hard, and Jack has done wonderful work with them. They are in good shape. They are a very special group of lads, they're very, very close and they love playing for Coralstown/Kinnegad. They are just enjoying the football; they are young men just happy out.”

Facing St Loman’s, Mullingar is a huge challenge, he feels.

“They're the standard bearers and they're the team that Coralstown/Kinnegad wants to become in terms of on the pitch; they definitely are.

“They have shown it time and time again. They have some unbelievable footballers, very smart clever footballers, brilliant leaders in John (Heslin) and Ronan (O’Toole), just to mention two. I think last year they had three Tailteann Cup All-stars which speaks for itself.

“Jason in the goals: we would have had him in the Westmeath goals, a top-class goalkeeper.

“They are players that a lot of our lads would have looked up to over the years and you know, they’re really look forward to going toe to toe with them on Sunday.”