Leinster IFC QF Preview: Rathkenny fancied to march on
Meath clubs have a decent record in the Leinster IFC and Rathkenny will be bidding to move a step closer to the final when they take on Longford side Kenagh in the quarter-final at Pearse Park next Saturday.
The reward for a victory over Kenagh would be a semi-final meeting with Louth's Roche Emmets or Dublin's Parnells/Scoil Ui Chonaill and they are games the Meath side can hold realistic ambitions of winning.
However, Kenagh are sure to test Rathkenny's resolve before any attentions can turn to semi-finals and a failure to fully focus on the task at hand in Longford would be disastrous for the Meath champions.
Meath are held in high regard in this competition. Trim won the Leinster title in 2021 and St Colmcille's claimed the crown in 2016 with both sides going on to contest All-Ireland finals.
However like any favourite, they are there to be knocked down by a plucky underdog and Kenagh have been waiting in the long grass since they defeated Sean Connollys by 2-9 to 0-13 in the Longford final on 14th October.
Kenagh had to endure a few tight games to emerge from their group, but their 14-point victory over Fr Manning Gaels in the IFC semi-final was a major signal of intent.
After losing to Sean Connollys by 0-8 to 3-11 in the group stages Kenagh improved remarkably and competed that remarkably 13 point turn around to claim the title.
That win was Kenagh's first IFC title in 40 years and their first final appearance since 2007 and the return of county player Keelin McGann from a summer in America has been key to Kenagh's recovery.
Darren Carberry scored 2-6 in the semi-final win over Fr Manning Gaels, while Shane Farrell and Thomas McGinn are other dangerous forwards who will cause damage if Rathkenny let them.
The battle of Andrew Dalton and Alan Jones against Rathkenny's midfield pairing of Donal Keogan and Christy Meade could be key because if the Meath champions can get a steady supply of ball into Keith Curtis then it is hard to see him being stopped.
Lee Ross Gill, Shea Carberry and John Gill are the backbone of the Kenagh defence, but if Curtis is on form and Donal Keogan, Max McKenna, Brian Meade and Eoghan Heavey offer decent support then it should be the Meath man who march on.