CHAMPIONSHIP2016

Robbie insists Mary’s will Leav-y nothing behind on Sunday

ROBBIE Leavy feels luckier than most to be still chasing the Joe Ward dream on Sunday.

When the big midfielder was sent off on foot of a second yellow card against Naomh Mairtin it looked like curtains for St Mary’s season.

But remarkably his colleagues produced one of the great comebacks and St Mary’s did the business in the replay.

‘I owe a major debt to the lads. Rightly or wrongly I was put off and the boys were eight points down at one stage, but they persevered and chipped away. Obviously I was relieved coming away from it and I owe the lads a favour or two.’

It hasn’t been a smooth season for Mary’s by any means with their high-profile manager Jack Sheedy leaving midway through, but it’s all worked out well and Leavy hopes they can sign off on a high on Sunday.

‘Jack left, things just weren’t working out and the lads came in a took the mantle. We had a couple of meetings and a few choice words were said and we tried to push on. At that stage we were looking at a relegation battle but we ended up missing out on the top four on the last day of the season. We managed to get some silverware in the Sheelan Cup, so we’re growing in confidence.

‘The Sheelan Cup win was a boost. It was a boost to get to the final, but we had been to the final a couple of years ago and were beaten by the Blues when we felt we were the better team. So it was nice to get a bit of silverware on the board because we have a lot of young players and it gives them the belief that we can compete with the best teams in the county.’

If anyone put it up to the Pat’s over the past couple of years it was the Mary’s in the quarter and semi-finals of ‘14 and ‘15 respec- tively and Leavy feels games like that help a team to grow.

‘We were tight to them until the last 10 minutes, but then they’re big guns pulled them through. We missed a few good chances which killed us in the last few minutes when they got their opportunities. But we did take confidence from that. Last year we were back in Division 1 playing the best teams week in and week out so that’s helped us in a major way.’

Their championship campaign has also instilled confidence and belief, particularly the Martin’s and Dreadnot’s games.

‘I suppose when we looked at the group we were quietly confident we’d get through it. Alan Kirk kicked a point to rescue a draw against the Gaels but we seven points up at half-time. After the Gaels played O Raghallaigh’s it came down to score difference so we knew what we had to do and thankfully we did it and topped the group.

‘We had a tough couple of games against the Mairtins and we’ve been improving all the time.

‘Against Dreadnots we conceded the early goal and then our top scorer Alan Kirk went off injured. I think we kicked seven wides in a row too and at that stage you’re thinking things aren’t working out here. But we kept plugging away. We were happy enough that we were creating the chances and then Paudy stepped up and settled us.’

Looking ahead to Sunday, Robbie is expecting a titanic battle with Conor Martin and Shane Brennan.

It’s going to be tough and physical. We’re not taking anything for granted. They’re the clear favourites, but we’ll give it as much as we can. If we can get on top in midfield that could help us push on.

‘I suppose there’s pressure on them after being in last year’s final, but there’s just as much pressure on us because we haven’t been there in 13 years and I think personally we have under-achieved. There were years where we just weren’t good enough but there were years where we under-achieved.

‘We’re like O’Mahony’s last year because I’m sure they didn’t go into that thinking we’ll do it next year if it doesn’t work out. You have to take your chance when it comes because you don’t know what’s coming down the line.

‘There’ll be a few nerves but you have to enjoy it too. It was great after the Dreadnots game seeing what it meant to the town and when you bust yourself year in and year out, it’s important to take some enjoyment too. There will be nerves but if there wasn’t there’d be something wrong with you.’