Key battle grounds to got Kilbride's way

Tom Gannon

Published: Sat 27 Sep 2025, 7:00 PM

Not many would have predicted that Kilbride or St Michael’s would still be left standing at this stage of the IFC but at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday the pair will battle it out and one of them will take another step closer to the senior ranks.

In only their second year in the IFC, Anthony Moyles has guided Kilbride to a semi-final after a thrilling victory over St Patrick’s. That win may have been slightly controversial after a questionable point awarded in the 57th minute proved crucial. However, that should not take away from how well the five-time Keegan Cup champions went about their business in that contest.

It’s been 20 years since St Michael’s re-entered the IFC ranks after they won the JFC in 2005. Insert joke to the tune of ‘you'd get less time for murder’, but in all seriousness, it is fair to say that they have certainly served their time in the grade. Those within the Carlanstown/Kilbeg club will feel optimistic after their team defied the tag of underdogs for the fourth game in succession when they got the better of a talented Oldcastle side in the quarter-final.

The key to St Michael’s success this year has been their half-forward line. The trio of Gearoid O’Malley, Shane McDonnell and Kuba Bidzinski contributed 0-14 of their side's 1-15 tally in the clash of the north Meath neighbours.

Kilbride’s defence are certainly up to the task of marshalling St Michael’s aforementioned marquee forwards. Finn White, Timmy Farrell and Andrew McWeeney form the talented Kilbride half-back line and they are all massive players in Moyles' army.

The Kilbride defence have been very impressive and even though Jamie Murphy did finish out the game very strong, for quite some time in that quarter-final the St Patrick’s star man was kept very quiet.

Down the other end, the likes of David O‘Leary and Josh Harford have enough talent to cause issues for St Michael’s so if Kilbride can keep a handle on O’Malley, McDonnell and Bidzinski, they will have a great chance of progressing.

Prediction - Kilbride.