The Kilmeena adventure has one more stop on its journey this weekend. The final destination is the citadel of Gaelic Games - Croke Park.
After years of toil and effort to get themselves out of the junior ranks in Mayo, their final stopping off point as a junior club is the biggest show in town, All Ireland Final day.
Standing in their way is Kerry and Munster champions Gneeveguilla, an opponent who will come to town, full of confidence that always oozes out of a side from the Kingdom, but Kilmeena will have no fear of what their opponents bring to the city, confident in their own abilities and hard work that has gotten them this far, just hours away from the ultimate glory.
Last Saturday, Kilmeena rocked up to Pearse Park in Longford and did what they had to do to get over the Leinster champions Clonbulogue - and did it in impressive style. They led from pillar to post in that game, imposing their style of play on their opponents and not letting their foot off the gas until the final whistle, even when the game was well put to bed already.
Kilmeena manager John Reilly, who himself lined out for the club in the same final in 2003, has put together an impressive side who know what their jobs are and what is expected and needed to get things done on the field.
In the middle of the park, Jack Carney has shown all the attributes that have seen him force his way into the Mayo senior set up, composed and strong on the ball, picking the right options and driving the team on from the middle of the park.
But it is by no means a one-man-show, the likes of Keith Joyce, Sean Ryder, Darragh Keaveney, John McGlynn and Conor Madden all are leaders and driving forces behind the success of this side, while the guile and experience of Niall Ryan is always on hand to offer an outlet along with drive an ambition.
Standing in their way will be a Gneeveguilla team who represent a proud tradition of Kerry football at this level. They were comfortable winners themselves in their semi-final last weekend, putting five goals past Cavan champions Denn in a 5-8 to 1-12 win.
They got off to a lighting start in that game and were 2-2 to 0-0 up after ten minutes, with Shane O'Sullivan and John O'Leary getting the goals. O'Sullivan added a second before half time and Pa Warren got a fourth before the break to send their side in leading 4-4 to 0-4 at the break. Jack Cremin, who came on as a sub, got their final goal just a minute before the end to put the full stop on that game. So keeping things tight at the back will be a big job for Kilmeena on Sunday.
Along with the goal scorers, they'll have to keep an eye on the likes of Padraig Doyle, Mike ‘Stones’ Murphy and Cornelius Buckley, who chipped in with four points in the semi-final.
It has been a long journey for Kilmeena from not so long ago just avoiding dropping down to Junior B football - to Croke Park; a journey that all the community has rowed in behind and come Sunday, the black and white flags will be flying as they head to Croke Park as their sons of their parish go looking to try and make their parish the best in the land.
