JOYING TWILIGHT ZONE

JP ROONEY will be the first to admit that his glorious career is deep into added time, but the former Louth star is enjoying the ride as much as ever.

Up until last year the classy corner forward hadn’t even contested a major senior final, but the Jock’s 2017 O’Donnell Cup win knocked a big item off the bucket list.

Now the Holy Grail is within touching distance and while Rooney may not be the first name on the Naomh Mairtin teamsheet any longer, he’s ready to play his part.

‘I’ve really enjoyed my career so far and I’m enjoying this year as much as any other year, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t,’ insists one of Louth’s best ever inside forwards.

Ironically, it’s the young players coming through, the pretenders to Rooney’s throne, that have kept the passion alive.

‘What the youth have brought has pushed the rest of us on and if I can help in any way I’ll be only too delighted.

‘In 2015 when we beat Collon in the relegation battle we knew how important that win was because we knew the crop of players that was coming through, so it’s proven now with the young lads coming in and and we are where we are because of them.

‘We knocked enough doors over the years and I suppose after losing one or two [semi-finals] the doubts start to creep in. It’s something Jim has worked on since he came in, focusing on the mental side of it all and he’s taken us to the next level.

‘You had Christy coming in too and he’s won a lot with Collon, so he added a new dimension to things and the minors are used to winning too so I suppose it has just snowballed and it’s rubbed off on everyone.

‘There’s nothing like youth and when it’s youth coming through that’s after winning, they want to push it on and keep winning. You see straight away what they bring to training and how they apply themselves and go about their business.’

But experience counts too and one of Rooney’s big jobs will be to keep the young players grounded and focused on the job in hand.

But he concedes that Sunday’s clash has sparked huge hype and a real feel-good factor around Monasterboice.

‘Intermediate in 1988 was the last final the club was in and we’ve been senior since. The O’Donnell final last year was the first senior final we were ever in. So obviously it’s created a great buzz around the place but we have to make sure we don’t get lost in the occasion.

‘I remember talking to Christy after their championship wins and he said every club deserves to have that day out and every player deserves to enjoy it.

‘We’ve been hit with a lot of tragedies over the last few years, all families connected to the club, so it’s great to give the parish a boost.’

But standing in the way is a Blues team that many are tipping to become the dominant force in Louth football over the next few years and Rooney knows it will be a mammoth task to dethrone the champs.

‘Everyone can see what they’ve done in the last year or two. When you go through the team they have quality everywhere and we’re going to be up against it. But we can’t be focusing too much on the Blues, all we can do is look after our own house and make sure we’re prepared as best we can.

‘Both teams have learned a few bits and pieces about each other. In the league final we were down to 14 and gave it a good go in the second-half. I think there will be a little bit of doubt in the Blues because they know the players that we have and the younger ones have beaten them in a minor final. It’s one game of football and anything can happen.

‘We started out the year and focused on ourselves and took each game as it came. We knew if we turned up we could beat the Pats. It was about getting our house right and we did and I suppose it’s not the same Pat’s team that dominated Louth football. But we’ll take it and bring it with us on Sunday.

‘Training since that game has been full on. Everyone is fighting for their place and everyone wants to play in the final, but it’s down to the boys on the line. If you’re not starting you have to look at how you can contribute coming on,’ he adds.

I suppose after losing one or two semi-finals the doubts start to creep in.