Kilmacud’s experience may prove crucial to swing final battle

A JANUARY boost, this. Two teams who like to play football and haven’t been prevented from staging training sessions or challenge matches in the run-up to today. Joy!

There’ll be ring-rustiness but passion and determination won’t be lacking.

The victor here will benefit greatly going into next month’s All-Ireland semi-finals as would-be opponents Crossmaglen have had to make do with an awkward trip across the Irish Sea for a competitive game.

That will be put to the back of the minds in O’Moore Park, though, especially among Rhode players who are angling for a first Leinster crown.

They know this game presents more of a chance than the 2008 final when they themselves more than Kilmacud Crokes denied them victory.

Here, Crokes are missing plenty in quality personnel. Paul Griffin, Mark Davoren, Niall Corkery, Darren Magee and Rory O’Carroll are players few clubs can afford to miss.

But Crokes aren’t lacking depth and the likes of Mark Vaughan and veteran Ray Cosgrove will make up for some of the loss while Brian Kavanagh is in excellent form. If O’Carroll’s brother Ross can do as good a job in stifling Niall McNamee as he did in the 2008 final, Crokes are half the way there.

While Rhode have scored freely on the way to Portlaoise, they have been reliant on McNamee. If he is cancelled out, the responsibility will be heaped on the Sullivans, Anton and Páraic, who are likely to be shadowed by two from Cian O’Sullivan, Kevin Nolan or Brian McGrath.

Rhode have a lot more going for them than just revenge but having had their hopes of making amends for 2008 stalled twice in December, they might find some of their fire in their bellies has died. All the while, Crokes have been sharpening up.

They’ll look to match Rhode’s rage early on and get out of their habit of poor starts before controlling matters. They have the class and essentially the experience to do it too.

Verdict: Kilmacud Crokes