By Paul Keane

Roscommon senior football championship final

Padraig Pearses v Clann na nGael

Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Referee: Patrick McTiernan

Live on TG4TV

They say what's meant for you won't pass you by.

The thought chimes with Liam Kearns now as he reflects on the sliding doors moment that led to him being appointed manager of Clann na nGael in late 2019.

It was only hours after missing out on the Galway job that went to Padraic Joyce - and months since stepping down as Tipperary manager - that he got a call out of the blue from the Roscommon club.

They were interested in him taking the reins and a part of Kerry man Kearns was immediately drawn to the challenge.

"In the 1980s, they were my second favourite team, behind my own club Austin Stacks obviously," says Kearns.

"They appeared in five All-Ireland finals and won none of them and I got very attached at the time to following them and willing them on. Tony McManus was a huge player for them and it became one of those captivating sports stories that had a big impression on me. For whatever reason it just really resonated with me and I remember cheering them on and hoping they'd do it, particularly as they got to the third final, the fourth final, the fifth final."

Despite the clear attraction of answering Clann na nGael's call, the much travelled Kearns still insisted on performing his due diligence before agreeing.

"I asked to meet with three players; Donie Shine, Cathal Shine and Ultan Harney," he continues. "I would have been familiar with the Roscommon scene because I was involved with the county when John Evans was manager. So I chatted to the lads and the committee and I liked what I heard and I said I'd definitely do it. Thankfully, I've got a great commitment from them and I've really enjoyed it."

Kearns' first year in charge was blighted by the pandemic. He reckons they had about 20 training sessions in total. For a new manager keen to implement fresh ideas, structures and strategies, his hands were essentially tied.

The season ended with the slimmest of county semi-final defeats to Padraig Pearses, 1-11 to 1-10. The holders advancing to another final was no great surprise at the time to neutrals but Clann na nGael felt they'd had the opportunities to win and failed to take them.

There was slight revenge when the teams met in the group stage this season and Clann na nGael won. Tomorrow, they'll meet all over again and while Kearns smiles that it's one apiece so far, this is easily the most significant of their meetings with the Fahey Cup on the line.

Kearns can only hope that after a year of tinkering and changing, made possible by 60-odd training sessions throughout 2021, he has got the mix right this time.

"A lot has changed with us since that game last year," he says. "We would have eight changes in personnel since then. We lost Donie Shine and Cathal Shine, two generational players really. Donie was such a heavy scorer for many years and Cathal was one of the best midfielders you could come across.

"We basically have two backs that started last year, a new midfield and three of the forwards that started last year. The rest would be new and then a few lads who are available again this year, like Jack Connaughton and Darragh Pettit.

"Our goalie, Ronan O'Reilly and our midfielder Graham Pettit would be in the 30 bracket but the rest of the lads are 25, 26 or under. So there's a good age profile there and they've done really well to get to a county final in a period of transition. When you lose a player like Donie to retirement before the season has even started, and Cathal then during the season, they're big blows but it's a huge endorsement of the underage structures in the club that they've got the depth to allow them to regroup and get to a final."

Led by another well known former inter-county manager, Pat Flanagan, opponents Padraig Pearses will challenge for their second title in three seasons. It is viewed as the ultimate 50-50 contest, a game that could go either way between two south Roscommon powerhouse clubs.

Whatever the outcome, Kearns won't have any regrets about his decision to work with a club bursting with tradition.

"From where I live in Limerick to the clubhouse in Athlone, it's about an hour and a half's drive," says former Kerry player Kearns. "I have no issue with the distance at all, if I was training a team in west Limerick it could be a similar drive. I'm just really glad I did it because I've enjoyed it immensely. Covid obviously didn't help things but I couldn't have asked for a better response from the players, they're a super bunch to deal with."