Knockananna and Enniskerry to clash

A novel pairing meet in the Junior ‘B’ final in the curtain raiser to finals weekend at Arklow on Saturday. After their respective wins last week in the semi-finals there won’t be a shortage of confidence in either squad heading in to this, writes Kieron Kenny.

Knockananna were probably the more impressive of the two putting in a very determined display against a dogged Rathnew side while Enniskerrry worked hard to fight off Kiltegan they were well in control.

An impressive showing by the Bartons Gavin and Brendan was central to their cause and they can also call on players like Brendan Fitzgerald, Luke Wrynn, Daniel Kelly and Seamus O’Gorman to strengthen their cause. Donal Finch, Mark Tyndall and Jack Conroy will have to carry more of the scoring threat now that it looks like Anthony O’Neill’s absence seems to be certain.

Knockananna will be eager to get back to Junior ‘A’ at the first attempt and seem to be well primed for this under the management of Eugene O’Brien.

Key figures will be the talented Johnny Wybrant and the Tyrrell brothers, Lorcan and Kevin.

Lorcan weighed in with 1-05 against Rathnew, four from frees, while Johnny Wybrant bagged 1-02.

Defence will again be a major factor for Knockananna as they held Rathnew very well in the semi-final. Big games are needed out of Paddy O’Keeffe, Ronan Byrne and Keith Corrigan in the full-back line while the solid Garry Bradley will hold the line on the 45 with the talented Paddy Byrne able to burst forward and take scores off that magic wand of a left leg of his.

The capable Stephen Hinchy will be very important to the cause on Saturday as will the massively important figures of Damien Byrne and Darren Flynn, with Byrne being many people’s man of the match in the Rathnew game.