Battle-hardened Killererin eyeing up final appearance
Despite accumulating four Galway titles over the past 11 seasons, success on the provincial front has eluded the current bunch of Killererin players.
“They’ve one over on us alright,” laughs player-manager Tommy Joyce. “The teams that won the club’s first two Galway titles in the 70’s, both managed to win in Connacht. Stephen Flaherty from that team is a current selector and my uncle Billy has one as well. During the celebrations after beating Corofin we had fellas reminding us about the Connacht record and slagging us off. There’s good banter about them having Connacht medals so we’d love to get our hands on one. This is more than likely a lot of the current lads last chance to win a Connacht title and we’re taking this year very seriously.”
Tomorrow represents the first step in Killererin’s attempts to land that elusive crown as they face off against Mayo champions Ballintubber at the semi-final stage in Tuam. Joyce is hopeful that the series of rigorous tests Killererin have undergone this season will stand to them and that the significance of the decider win over Corofin will benefit them.
“We’d some serious battles with Moycullen and Mountbellew taking us to replays, and tight matches against Salthill-Knocknacarra and NUIG before that. Earlier in the year Mountbellew had beaten us in the first round. We got nothing easy all year. Ballintubber have some very good players and they’ll be coming to Tuam looking to give it their best shot.
“But hopefully we’ll build on the county final win. There was a lot at stake against Corofin as we’d never met against each other before in a final. We’d crossed swords in the league and other stages of the championship in the past. Everyone knew whoever won that game was going to have serious bragging rights. It was the fourth title that a few of us have managed to win, but it was definitely the sweetest one.”
Over the past decade, Joyce’s role has entailed steering operations on the pitch along with his older brother Pádraic, cousin Nicky and experienced former Galway netminder Alan Keane. This season he has branched out into management and it is a role that has enthused him, to the extent that next season he will assume the managerial reins of the Galway minor footballers.
” I wanted to do it this year to be honest and I knew the players were there to have a good crack off the county. It takes its toll but I have enjoyed it. I also have to concentrate on playing. If there were 15 lads better than me, I’d have no problem standing on the sideline. It’s just a job that takes a lot of time and organisation. But once you’re organised there and you’ve good people around you, it’s sound.”
