FORMER Kilmacud Croke’s captain Johnny Magee has dismissed any talk of Saturday’s All-Ireland final against Kilcoo being a David versus Goliath clash.
Dublin kingpins Kilmacud have around 4,800 members, with approximately 130 teams across all age groups and levels in men’s and ladies’ football, hurling and camogie, while Kilcoo have 412 members from a parish population of approximately 1,600.
However, Magee was joint manager when Croke’s fell to a shock 2018 Leinster final defeat to Mullinaghta – the Longford champions, with a membership of little more than 150, spectacularly turning the tables on odds of 1/14 for a Kilmacud win.
And the former Dublin defender places no stock in anything other than the two teams that take the field.
“All that is bullsh*t,” he said.
“We were a very small club and because of urban spread, it has grown into a bigger club. But look at the size of other clubs around the country and they don’t have success. It doesn’t guarantee you anything.
“You can base it off a numbers game, and that’s very easy to do. Just because we’re a big club now doesn’t mean we’re not a community, or that Kilcoo have the monopoly on being a special community because they have a lower membership.
“If you were basing success on membership, well f**k me, we’ve been very unsuccessful because it’s been 13 years since we were in an All-Ireland final.
“Look at St Finbarr’s even [who Kilcoo defeated in the semi-final]. Finbarr’s is a big, big club, the only club to win hurling and football All-Irelands, but they’ve no divine right because of their size.
“It comes in cycles, no matter what size you are. Those lads have got good coaching, the same way the Kilcoo lads have got good coaching.”
Kilmacud look likely to be without star forward Paul Mannion for Saturday’s final as he recovers from a knee injury sustained during the Leinster semi-final before Christmas.
Magee, though, feels his absence has not hindered performances.
“Listen, Paul is a multiple All-Ireland medal winner, a serious talent, but no disrespect to Paul, I feel we’re probably playing better as a forward unit now.
“Let’s be honest, if I’m looking up and your first option is to play to Dara Mullin, but out of the corner of your eye you see Paul Mannion – who do you give it to? The right option should be Dara Mullin but if you give it to Paul you know there’s going to be an end product.
“Paul was flying in Leinster, and he did well in a couple of the Dublin games, where I feel now – especially with the impact from the bench they’re all chipping in.”
