BY RONAN SCOTT

Killinkere could be on the brink of a second promotion in as many years following last weekend’s win over Ballyhaise in Cavan’s division two.

They have leapt into second place on scoring difference ahaead of Bailieborough who lost to Denn last weekend.

There run of form is quite remarkable considering that they were a division three team last year, yet manager Paddy Bates reckons that the good run of form owes much to the 2018 season.

“We had a really good result last weekend (the 0-15 to 0-14 win over Killinkere). The season has been going quite well. We came up to division three last year and some people thought that we were favourites to go back down. We have adapted very well. I think our form has carried on from last year. We had a good year last year when we won division three, and got the Junior championship final. We lost the final after a replay, so we had one blip. We have made a few changes, and blended in some youth and that has made the team a little better.”

One of the reasons why they have done well comes down to their forward play.

“We have been scoring well. We are the highest scorer in the division.”

Bates explained that for a rural club, they are going very well. Their reserve team is in the semi-final of division two league, the club is also in the middle of some exciting developments of their facilities, and numbers at training are very good.

They must temper their enthusiasm at the moment, as they are facing into bit of a break from league football to allow some space for the county team who are bidding to reach the Ulster final.

For Killinkere, that will allow them time to consider their final four games in the division, the games which could propel them to division one. Then they can look forward to the Intermediate championship in the summmer.

“We haven’t been doing much training, because they are playing so many games they don’t need to do a lot of training.

“We let them go out and play.”

So will that approach bring them promotion again?

Bates was cautious.

“We are in second at the moment and we would like to finish second. We have four games left. We have said to the players we could win all four, or we could lose all four. We will see what happens. We have the right attitude.”

r.scott@gaeliclife.com