Kelly offers quiet but firm assurance

Clann captain Megan Kelly is quick to confirm with a laugh that wearing the armband doesn’t mean that she does any shouting or roaring in the dressing room since that’s not her style.

But there is a quiet assurance about the county star that, regardless of the journey to this point, the players are ready to put their best foot forward in the county final against Boyle this Saturday.

“At the start we had St. Ciarán’s and Éire Óg, they were well-structured, they had their tactics and format right, and we were only getting used to back playing with each other with the five county girls gone,” she explained.

“Then we had likes Orla O'Neill and Ruth Finlass back, we didn’t have them for league. But for the last few games now we've felt more comfortable, we're where we want to be. Sure, you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but down here with the evenings drawing in and a county final to look forward to.” 

It stands to reason that there would be some element of transition involved for Clann. In 2026, there was significant player turnover, both with young players stepping up and others coming back into the fold after periods of absence, while there was also new management, and indeed new rules.

In Kelly’s view, only the personnel aspect was significant as she feels that John Molloy, Aidan St. John and the other coaches didn’t go for particularly radical change, while in terms of the rules, the impact has been minimal — perhaps too minimal, in her view.

“Personally, I didn't find a massive difference,” she said.

“The solo and go is the main one, it keeps the pace in the game, then keeping three players back, there are the only two rules I find that have changed it a little bit.

“You do like to get forward, but you kind of have to rein yourself in a bit to make sure you don't go too far ahead. We haven’t been caught with a breach yet, but it’s hard for the refs because there aren't many officials. There will be on county final day, so we’re watching for it.

“Personally, I do like a physical game, but I don't really think it has changed much, even though the rules have changed. 

"I don't feel it. You're allowed to put the hands on maybe a bit more, but the refs are pulling so you can't really do much more than you could before.” 

Kelly has recently moved to Kiltoom to live but if there were any rumours about a change of allegiance as a result of her connection to St. Brigid’s, she shoots them down emphatically.

Equally, she says how this Clann panel regrouped and drew a line under their 2025 defeat to the neighbours, albeit adding the caveat that “you’d use it a bit to motivate you”, while also saying “a bit, yeah” if there was a tinge of disappointment at not getting to play St. Brigid’s in a championship knockout fixture.

But ultimately, such moments of equivocation are rare, even if her tone remains calm and even. When asked the ultimate question, if Clann will win this Saturday, her definitive “yes” response is offered without hesitation.

Quiet but firm assurance once more.