In-form Kiltale to give Kildalkey the blues

Normally when teams win their semi-finals in the SHC they have at least two weeks to prepare for the big day. Not this time.

Old foes Kildalkey and Kiltale must make a quick turnaround and be ready for the decisive showdown on Sunday after playing their semi-finals last weekend. Strange times indeed.

It's likely duties will be light in both camps this week as they shake off the effects of the semi-finals and prepare bodies again for another battle - and what a battle it promises to be. The big question is who will win? Not wanting to hedge our bets we're going for Kiltale.

Why? Well, anybody who saw them play their semi-final, and that wasn't many, could not be but impressed with how Brian Gilsenan's side went about dismantling the surprisingly lacklusture challenge of Ratoath. That was especially the case in the second-half. There were times when the quality of the hurling produced by Kiltale was breathtaking. Quality.

Once the game opened up a little, the Kiltale players began to look on the spaces that became available like an artist might look at large canvas; as a format to expresses themselves. Throughout that second-half Kiltale weaved pretty patterns of play that left the opposition defence chasing shadows.

As they showed in various games this year Kiltale have substantial options when it comes to garnering scores. They can score from distance, as they demonstrated most forcefully in the impressive 1-20 to 2-8 victory over Killyon in the quarter-finals. A high proportion of their points that day came from distance.

They can also utilise the very considerable pace in their side to make a rapid shift from defence to attack, with Cillian O'Sullivan particularly effective in that department. They can play it long too and often waiting close to the opposition square can be found players like Ross Ryan and Mark O'Sullivan who between them hit 1-7 in the win over Ratoath. They are clinical. A major threat.

Kiltale, who have leaked early goals in games, didn't make the best of starts to their campaign with a defeat by Na Fianna but they have re-grouped and have improved with each game since. Yet there is a vulnerability in defence Kildalkey might exploit. The 2-8 they conceded against Killyon was example of that.

Then there is Jack Regan. He is one of those players who would not be out of place on any team in the country. He is surely one of the top marksmen in modern hurling in the way he can translate frees and '65s' into scores. Long distances, awkward angles, it doesn't matter. Even difficult weather conditions can't scramble his radar. With him around no team can afford to concede a free and be certain it won't be costly - except deep, very deep, inside the Kiltale half.

Of course Kildalkey have got their top-notch marksman too, no team gets to this stage of the competition without one or two. Conor Kearney is a young player with the ice-cool temperment needed to perform the task given to him. He scored eight points against Trim in the semi-final, firing over from all sorts of ranges. Impressive.

Kildalkey can also call on Paddy Conneely to take frees when required and he's another player who rarely misses.

He's also a big player for Kildalkey in terms of winning ball when it's played up field. Kildalkey also have buckets pace and skill in players like Nicky Potterton who can exploit open country.

They have James McNally too, a young player who has displayed heroic dedication in returning from injury to successfully stake a place in the team. Such sacrifice, such dedication.

Kildalkey have experience in the likes of Padraig Geoghegan and Mairtin Doran, two players who are rejuvenated. Gary Kelly is commander-in-chief in a strong defence with Mark McCormack one of the top goalkeepers around.

Yes, Kildalkey are not short of big game attributes but Killtale have players who know how to win finals.

Many of them were involved in claiming the five SHC titles between 2014 and 2018. They know the drill - and they can do it again.

The last time Kildalkey and Kiltale met in a Jubilee Cup final was the replay in 2019. Kildalkey won that day, 1-17 to 0-11, to prevent Kiltale claiming a six-in-a-row. Kiltale can exact revenge.