Wayne guides Joe’s into brave new world

IF you want to win an intermediate championship Wayne McKeever could be the man to call.

The O’Connell’s stalwart guided his own club to Seamus Flood glory in 2012 and he repeated the trick with old rivals St Joseph’s on Sunday.

‘Yeah it’s great because this is one of the hardest championships to win so to get two is great,’ he agreed as his celebrated a deserved victory over Mattock Rangers.

After suffering four semi-final defeats it was clear St Joseph’s had potential, but those near misses also raised question marks and McKeever took a leap of faith at the start of the year.

‘They were knocking on the door for the last few years and they lost four semi-finals. They had won two minors five or six years ago, so I knew it was a good squad and that there was plenty to work with.’

It didn’t take long for McKeever to realise just how much potential the Joe’s possessed, and while he always felt they could land the big one he was expecting serious test from Mattock on Sunday.

‘I knew we’d be up against it with Mattock. They have all that experience and they know how to win finals. I knew we’d have to battle and it was bodies on the line at the end.’

McKeever felt Masttock would come out all guns blazing at the start and he prepared his troops to weather the storm.

‘We watched them against the Clans and especially against the Mochta’s in the semi-final, and they really came out of the traps at the start.

‘So we knew they’d start strongly and that we’d have to match that intensity. The goals came at a perfect time and they really lifted us.

‘And we knew that if we were there or thereabouts with fifteen minutes to go we’d be fit enough to go on and win it and hold out.’

Keeping their noses in front in the third quarter was equally crucial McKeever felt.

‘We hammered it home over the last two weeks that when we concede a score we have to win the next ball and we never let them get a foothold in the game.’

McKeever is looking forward to another crack at Leinster and he reckons the Joes are wellequipped for senior football.

‘We got to the Leinster final in 2012 with O’Connell’s and it’s a bonus. You take each game as it comes and sure why not. There’s youth in the side and some lovely footballers. Senior is a big step up but that’s where you want to be, dining at the top table.’