Leinster Club JFC quarter-final Preview: Kilbride out to shock Kildare champions Milltown
Every step Kilbride take these days is like walking on cloud nine and next Saturday in Ashbourne their fairytale journey will continue when they welcome Kildare champions Milltown for the Leinster Club JFC quarter-final.
Despite being the most dominant side in Meath club football for more than 10 years from the early 1960s' to 1971 Kilbride had never set foot in provincial competition before Saturday 21st October.
On that nervous day they were almost caught out by ex-pats who form Amsterdam GAA club, but a tapped over point from a Ronan O'Leary penalty with the last kick of the game spared Kilbride's blushes.
It has been a memorable few weeks for Kilbride. They claimed their first championship title in over 50 years when defeating Clann na nGael in style and now they are two steps away from a provincial final - more unchartered territory.
Without their talismatic forward Josh Harford since he scored 1-4 in the JFC semi-final win over St Brigid's Kilbride have survive - mainly due to their attacking nature and willing to play football in the face of adversity.
Other talented players have stepped up in Harford's injury absence. Adam Malone, Conor McWeeney, Ronan O'Leary and Zack McGovern, to name just four, have all impressed.
Throw in Caolan Howard, Paddy Petters and Conor O'Driscoll in defence and Kilbride have all the ingredients necessary to be a force to be reckoned with.
Milltown are no mugs, they won four of their five group games in Kildare. The only game they lost was by a point to Rathcoffey and in the semi-final they got the better of Grangenolvin.
They saved their best until it was needed most as they hammered Robertstown by 1-17 to 1-6 in the final and made an immediate return to intermediate football after suffering relegation in 2022.
Robertstown's cause wasn't helped by the fact they received three red cards, but Milltown's win was never in doubt.
Milltown will look to Cian Buckley, Colin O'Shea at centre back; the midfield pairing of Shane Daly and Kevin Byrne while up front Conor Sheerin, Ben Curran, the experienced Declan McKenna and Ronan O'Shea to steer them over the line.
Byrne and Curran scored 1-5 between them in the final win and with 11 different scorers they obviously have threats from all over the field.
Kilbride will have their work cut out, but they are walking on air and operating in bonus territory and if they hit their straps early on then a shock win is on the cards.