Ballymun Kickhams bid to end 27 years of hurt

Ballymun Kickhams will aim to end a barren spell of 27 years when they face Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin SFC final at Parnell Park this evening (7.45pm).

That such an established club should experience such a famine reflects the misfortune that has accompanied their championship campaigns, especially in recent times when they have been beaten at the last-four stage in three of the past four years. However, there have been signs during their unbeaten league campaign that Ballymun have addressed some of the defensive issues that undermined their challenges in the past and Dublin senior Philly McMahon has excelled in a full-back role previously held by club legends Gerry Hargan, Dermot Deasy and Paddy Christie.

It is in the half-back line that Kickhams have proved most dominant and the collective contribution of Alan Hubbard, Karl Connolly and James Burke was pivotal in their facile 1-16 to 1-7 win over St Jude’s on Sunday.