Kevin Lynch can provide the X-Factor for Naomh Padraig at Croke Park

The stage looks temptingly set for Kevin Lynch at Croke Park on Saturday. 

From a distance, the Naomh Padraig big man is a wrecking ball at full-forward. And a little like the side’s other talismanic figure, Caolan McColgan, Lynch has had to deal with some real injury concerns in recent times. 

But up close and personal at Naomh Padraig’s All-Ireland final press event last Saturday at Maurice McMenamin Park in Ture Lynch, like most of his teammates to be fair, still looks like a lad that hasn’t had a Gillette Mac 3 in his hand all that long.

At just 19, and without wanting to put too much pressure on those broad shoulders, he’s kind of reminiscent of another baby-faced protege, a certain Michael Murphy, when he first burst on the scene all those years ago. 

Whenever a direct ball is sent Lynch’s way, you sit up a little straighter and expect fireworks. 

The player was instrumental in their dominant claiming of a first-ever Donegal JFC title but in the process, he sustained a niggly foot injury that took some time to recognise and then, as a result, diagnose. 

A subsequent scan revealed three broken bones and ruled him out for most of his team’s victorious Ulster campaign. 

“Aye, it was a bit messy, so it was,” he starts to explain. “I broke a few bones in my foot. I kind of played on with it and then went to get it looked at but didn't rest it and just made it worse. It's been an awkward one to heal but it's well healed now.

“It happened three or four weeks before we played the county final but as we went on it definitely got worse because I didn't get it looked at. 

“After the county final the pain was very bad so I went and got it looked at and then had a bit of a rest and put it in a boot.

“I missed the Ulster quarter-final and semi-final and then didn't know if I'd be fit or not for the Ulster Final but I was able to come in for half-time.”

In their dramatic All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilmurry in Parnell Park Lynch really stepped up in the last secconds of normal time when he converted a huge ’45 that brought the game to extra-time. 

He also drilled home an extra-time penalty and then another one in the shootout to help seal a famous victory for the Muff outfit. 

He’s once again a member of the Donegal U-20s squad but new boss Gary Boyle has told him to concentrate on making history with Naomh Padraig before he needs to see him. 

The attention that Naomh Padraig are garnering is new and the novelty of that, Lynch explains,  has to be embraced.

“We’ve never seen the likes of this and it’s lovely for the players but also the supporters. Big days like this don't come around too often to the club. 

“The amount of youngsters here this morning in the club colours and the schools all decorated, it’s going to leave a lasting impression on all those wee minds. 

“There is a real buzz about the area too and wherever you go someone wants to stop and talk. 

“It’s all anyone wants to chat about really and in the months of November, December and January that’s been brilliant”.