THE saying goes that the cream always rises to the top and that is definitely the case for this this weekend's Ulster Senior Club Final between the reigning All-Ireland champions, Kilcoo and Glen.
Kilcoo possess a desire to succeed that not too many clubs have, and over time they seem to be getting better and better, even though a lot of their big players are in the twilight of their careers. This is testament to those individuals but also to the collective unit that they continue to have the hunger to get back to the top year after year.
Glen have come good in what is traditionally one of the toughest club championships to win in Ulster over the last two years and have capitalised on the vast array of dominance that a lot of these guys had at underage level, within their own county and on the provincial stage. This will be their first Ulster final at senior level and while there is more at stake, I am sure the players will lean towards their experiences of playing in Ulster finals at underage level and try to use it to their benefit.
It's not too often that we witness a Kilcoo team turning up for a contest of this magnitude and not performing, so it's almost inevitable that we know most of their players will deliver. Therefore, the onus will be on Glen to see if they can do the same.
Last season, Glen were winning games more comfortably than they have been doing this year, yet they were unable to beat a more seasoned team in Kilcoo in the Ulster semi-final, but this could play more to their advantage.
They are now learning to grind out tight games and the semi-final win against Cargin was evidence of this. They went into the game as huge favourites, but there was no way that they were five points a better team on the day. The scoreline flattered them but they got the job done and I always think this is a sign in great teams, that they can sometimes win games even when they aren’t at their best.
Can Glen learn from their defeat to Kilcoo last year? That will be a question that many are asking beforehand. One thing that is for sure, they have a management that are very smart and experienced and they will have analysed last year's game in great detail, as well as their most recent matches to try and identify areas where they need to improve on and beat Kilcoo.
This is not an easy task at all because with a team like Kilcoo, there are few weaknesses and their work-rate in each and every game is rarely outdone.
Having this game in the Athletic Grounds adds atmosphere to the match. The stand is very close to the pitch and for a player, it's always better when you feel the heat and roars of your supporters going through your veins. Players love that feeling.
As GAA fans, we are extremely lucky to be looking forward to a game of this magnitude between the two best teams in Ulster at this particular time. If both teams play to their potential, then we could be in for an absolute classic. It’s too close to call and I'm not going to be silly enough to put my neck on the block. Too often in the past, I have failed with my predictions but I am travelling to Armagh on Sunday, keenly anticipating a huge contest.
On another note, retiring from the inter-county scene is not an easy decision for any player to make, especially when a player has given close to 15 years' service to the cause. But this week my old team-mate Brendan Donaghy decided that the time was right for him to step aside.
Brendan would have been any manager's dream to work with. He always did what was asked of him, had a toughness about his game and was just a brilliant all-round defender. Early in his career, he was utilised as a man-marker and then his role changed as he became the team’s number six. He was an extremely smart footballer on top of this. This guy deserves all the credit he gets, and I am sure that in the years to come, there will be a role for him in the county game once again. Enjoy retirement, Brendan. You deserve it.
