Final fling a long time
MAJOR finals have been a bit like Dublin buses for Naomh Mairtin - none for what seems like an age and then two arrive one after the other!
But as sweet as last year’s O’Donnell Cup win was for the progressive Monasterboice outfit, Joe Ward is the Holy Grail and Paul Berrill feels it’s about time the Jocks graced the biggest stage of all.
‘It’s a long time coming, it’s 30 years since we got promoted from Intermediate,’ he says. ‘My two uncles and my father played around that time and they won the junior a few years before that as well. I suppose it’s thanks to them that we’re up to this level, but it’s a bit long now since we got any success and hopefully we can put that right on Sunday.
‘For the young lads coming up they’ve a bit of pedigree in terms of winning the minor a few years ago and they’re brought that winning mental- ity into the squad. For for us older lads it’s great having them there pushing us all on and there’s a great buzz in the camp.’
There have been many near misses with semi-final heartache aplenty, but Paul now that they’ve scratched that itch, Paul wants the Jocks to raise the bar again.
‘We’ve come close a few times and one of the lads said the other night we’ve been to five or six semi-finals, one year we got to a replay in the early 90s. I suppose last year given the circumstances if there had have been a few more minutes on the clock we might have got to one too.
‘Over the last two years one of the key things we identified was consistency. We’ve been in two big finals and this is our third on Sunday so the young lads have brought that mentality and we’re getting used to being in the big games now.
‘Last year’s league win was the best day in the blue jersey for a lot of us. That was one of the key things we said at the start of the year was to get another taste of that.
‘We stressed all year that the depth of the panel is crucial and it’s been brilliant. Everyone from one to 31 can come on and make a difference and it doesn’t weaken the team at all. It gave us a great lift against the Pat’s to be able to bring JP Rooney and John Clutterbuck off the bench at half-time and we kicked on in the second-half.
‘There’s five or six of the minor team through now and they’re pushing everyone else on and there’s great competition for places. Some of the young lads have really turned into great leaders, like Sam (Mulroy), Eoghan (O’Callaghan) and Conor (Whelan), they’re realising their potential and that drives everyone on.’
But in the background Newtown Blues linger menacingly and while Paul accepts they are worthy favourites he feels the Jocks will be a match for them.
‘They’re a great team and over the last year to 18 months they’ve been the form team. This year they’ve been so consistent in the league, I think they won all their games bar one. They’re a very good side and they’ll take a lot of watching. It’ll be tough, but we’re prepared for it.’
The Jocks pushed them all the way in the league final where the first-half dismissal of Wayne Campbell and a Blues’ goal moments, proved decisive in a close contest.
‘We’d a few goal chances and we conceded a couple of soft goals at the other end. The sending off was a big moment and the conditions made it very tough. We were disappointed to lose it and not retain our title. But we had a few chances and hopefully if we get them this time we can take them.’
It will also be an emotional occasion for the Naomh Mair-