Football

Knowledge is power for Naomh Colmcille boss Ryan McKinley

PREPARED: Naomh Colmcille manager Ryan McKinley has done his homework on Saturday's opponents Knocknagree Picture Margaret McLaughlin
PREPARED: Naomh Colmcille manager Ryan McKinley has done his homework on Saturday's opponents Knocknagree Picture Margaret McLaughlin PREPARED: Naomh Colmcille manager Ryan McKinley has done his homework on Saturday's opponents Knocknagree Picture Margaret McLaughlin

ASK any manager have they spent much time analysing their opponents and you’re usually hit with the “we’re focussing on ourselves” line.

Naomh Colmcille boss Ryan McKinley takes a different approach.

Nudge him about Cork side Knocknagree, their opponents in Saturday’s All-Ireland Junior Football Championship semi-final, and he has a cluster of information to reel off.

Using some contacts down in the Rebel county, McKinley is aware of everything from Knocknagree’s scoring stats, what they have tucked away in the trophy cabinet, right through to the average age of their side.

The manager is of the opinion that the more information the better as Naomh Colmcille aim to become the first Donegal side to reach an All-Ireland final at this level.

“They’re quite like us,” said McKinley.

“We were the first Donegal side to win the Ulster Junior and it’s their first time winning the Munster title.

“They have been scoring 2-14, 2-15 a game and have six capable forwards.

“They like to play an open style of football and they’ve had two or three good challenge matches leading up to this game.”

Knocknagree’s Munster final win over Dromid Pearses ended a nine-year reign of dominance by Kerry sides in the competition.

There was a caveat though as they are actually based in the Kingdom parish of Rathmore, although they are affiliated to Cork.

“They are a very good side,” McKinley continued. “They won Munster, they won the league (Junior A) and they won the Páidí Ó Sé Cup too earlier in the year.

“It’s a big occasion for their club, as it is for ours.”

Of course, McKinley’s focus isn’t solely on Knocknagree and he is pleased to report a clean bill of health going into the game.

There are a few flu victims amongst the Newtowncunningham men, but nothing that is likely to prevent anyone from taking part in Mullingar.

The side have already secured the club’s first ever All-Ireland series win as they left Edinburgh with a 1-10 to 2-6 quarter-final victory over Dunedin Connolly’s at the start of December.

They required a late Daniel Clarke free-kick to progress to the semi-final, but McKinley wasn’t too concerned by the performance.

“We were relatively happy with it,” he said.

“The biggest thing on the day were the conditions, the pitch was in terrible shape.

“The pitch was covered in ice and if it had been over here I don’t think it would have gone ahead.”

Since then the Naomh Colmcille players have really invested time into their pursuit of even more history.

They have spent much of the winter break out on the training pitch and even took part in a gym session on Christmas Eve.

“Things have been going good ahead of the game,” McKinley added.

“We have had about 15 training sessions since the last game so they effort has been impressive. They have been in working hard and training well.”

The club, meanwhile, has received a boost in the build up to the fixture with the news that they are to receive €12,236 to help cover the cost of the damage caused by flooding in August.