CHAMPIONSHIP2017
Club success would top the lot for Stewart
HE’S now a bone fide inter-county star and he’s even won a national title at Croke Park, but Dundalk Gaels’ defender James Stewart insists that a Joe Ward success with his club Dundalk Gaels would top the lot.
‘Playing with your club is something special, and getting to the Senior Championship final is what every player just wants across the board, no matter what age.
‘It’s what you dream of, a county final with your club, playing with your friends since you were underage and all the way up. So this is definitely the most special moment for me so far, and hopefully we can go one step more and actually go on to win it.’
It’s been a trying few years for the Gaels as they fell at the penultimate hurdle three times, but there was never any self doubt within the panel, Stewart insists.
‘Within the group, we always knew there was a final in us. Getting to the semi-final stage, I think three times over the last four years, and just never getting over that line But this year, we finally did it. Losing in the last two semi-finals probably stood to us a wee bit, having that experience, because we have quite a lot of young players on the team. It probably got us over the line this year, and brought us one step closer to finally achieving what we really want.’
Despite all those near misses there was no trepidation going into this year’s championship.
‘The Championship this year was wide open, so I don’t think was there a whole lot of fear. There was no dominant team this year. We were coming well in the Championship, getting the win over Sean O’Mahonys, and we had a strong league campaign, unfortunately losing out to the Dreadnots in the semi-finals. But finished really strongly in the original games in the league and we brought that momentum into the Championship games against the O’Mahonys and the Mairtins. It really stood to us winning those hard, tough competitive games.’
The Gaels don’t have a lot of final experience in their ranks with their last Intermediate win coming a decade ago, but Stewart doesn’t think it will be a factor on Sunday.
‘There’s one or two still around. Peter McGinnity might be the last man standing. He left for a few years, but came back, so he obviously knew there was a Senior Championship in us.’
There’ll be nerves in the build-up, but Stewart insists it’s important to embrace them and enjoy the experience and he’s confident that the Gaels can end a 65-year wait for Joe Ward glory.
‘Of course there’ll be nerves, but it’s exciting times to be a part of the club. I think we had the right blend of youth and experience. We have previous county players on the team now, especially Derek Crilly who’s been there and done that in all the tough games.
‘Young players, it might be a different experience for them, but as I said, the experienced heads on the team will hopefully guide them through it and tell them the things they need to heare before the game starts, and during it.
‘Every player on this team has been thinking about this since day one, just dreaming of the Senior final appearance, winning it, and lifting Joe Ward.
‘I think we’ve been thinking about it so much that we’ve been just working towards that goal in every single training session, every single day, whether it be with the team or by ourselves.
‘We’ve definitely put the work in, and I’m fully confident that we’re going to get over the line now next Sunday.’