What way will the wind blow in Smith Monumentals Leitrim IFC Final battle of the Gaels

If picking a winner in the Senior Final was difficult, it is well nigh to impossible to do  when it comes to Sunday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Final in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin with both Allen Gaels and Melvin Gaels so evenly matched that predicting a winner from this game seems like a fool’s errand.

Both the Gaels were favoured to reach Sunday’s Final (3.30pm throw-in) given their history, record over the past few years and, most importantly, the undoubted talent within their ranks that suggests they could be very competitive at Senior level.

To add a little bit of extra intrigue to this contest, Melvin Gaels actually relegated Allen Gaels back in 2021 when Darragh Rooney proved the difference between the sides. Rooney is now playing his football with St Jude’s in Dublin but a young emerging Melvin Gaels side are looking like the real deal.

Trouble for them, so are Allen Gaels - they have their veterans but the emergence of a Minor Championship winning team from 2010 has seen their core group boosted by a host of players who could go on to star for Leitrim at Senior level in the years to come.

Statistics from this year’s championship would appear to back up the notion that there is nothing between these teams - they both finished on six points after the group stages, Allen Gaels unbeaten but with two draws and Melvin Gaels recovering from a shock first round loss to an Aughavas side who actually relegated back to Junior by Ballinaglera  last Saturday.

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Allen Gaels have scored more and conceded less, averaging 17.5 points a game while conceding just 9.2 points a game. They’ve scored eight goals and conceded just three. 

Melvin Gaels have played two more games but their scoring return is remarkably similar, averaging a return of 17 points a game but their concession rate is higher at 11 points a game. In terms of scoring goals, they’ve hit the net ten times and conceded six, both higher than their Drumshanbo opponents.

They’ve both played St Mary’s and Carrigallen on their way to the final - Melvin Gaels beat both, somewhat convincingly while Allen Gaels drew with both in their first two games but they’ve picked up considerable speed since then so it's hard to know what to read into those results, particularly as Melvin Gaels lost on their first day out into the bargain.

Both teams have a high fielding veteran who sets the tempo for their teams - Brian Mulvey and Peter McGowan are hugely important to their teams and both have a nice mix of forwards with Caleb Duffy, Ciaran Walsh and Ciaran McMorrow for the Drumshanbo men and Gary Clancy, Joe McGloin and Caolan Clancy for the Kinlough men formidable operators.

If there are any differences, it may come in team philosophy - Melvin Gaels are defensively strong and tend to play a more patient game while Allen Gaels like to move the ball far more quickly, seeking to find spaces to exploit and knowing the management teams involved, they’ll try to come up with ways to stifle the strengths of their opponents.

Allen Gaels may just have an edge when it comes to strength off the bench - the return of Radek Oberwan, a County player no less, gives them huge options and he will add a big physical presence around the middle of the park, which may see Michael Ferguson deployed in that area for the Kinlough men.

Tradition plays a role too - Allen Gaels incredibly contest their first final since 2002 so you’d have to think Melvin Gaels have an advantage there, having featured in last year’s decider. That has got to be a big help in terms of nerves and managing expectations but there is also a pressure there when it comes to delivering second time around.

We normally talk about a moment of magic deciding Finals but equally, Sunday’s Final might come down to a moment of a player holding their tongue! Simply put, discipline is key here as both teams get in your face with an aggressive game plan so whoever keeps their cool the best could have a significant advantage.

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Historically, defences win championships so Allen Gaels have an edge there but the Drumshanbo men haven’t come up against a suffocating Melvin Gaels back-line who like nothing better than frustrating the life out of an opponent, although Kiltubrid did offer some clues on how to disrupt the Kinlough men.

I’ve been fiercely impressed by both teams during this campaign - my gut feeling is that Melvin Gaels are probably a bit more rigid in their tactical approach, that they can open up so much more. Allen Gaels are a freer flowing team and I have them just a smidgen ahead of Melvin Gaels but it will go down to the wire on Sunday, of that I'm sure!