Ronayne backs his team to perform well

Diarmuid Sheehan Mourneabbey manager Shane Ronayne fancies his side to get the job done if they perform as they can

HANE Ronayne has been there and wore the tea shirt over and over again when it comes to the field of managing high profile GAA teams however few, including himself I suspect, could argue that his major achievement to date isn’t managing to guide the Mourneabbey Ladies football squad to All Ireland glory this time last year.

Roll on 12 months, and the man and his highly motivated charges are back in the big time, this time as holders, and this time looking to go back to back – something few might have predicted after the side lost their third final in a row back in 2017.

Ronayne brings the 2019 version of this all conquering side to the LIT Gaelic Grounds this Saturday night where he will need to mastermind another win over Galway’s Kilkerrin-Clonberne.

Two weeks ago, Ronayne saw his side dig deep to make the showpiece game and that win, above all else really pleased the manager in recent times.

“We were just thrilled to win that one,” he said.

“We had played them [Donaghmoyne] twice and they had beaten us twice so to get over a side that had beaten us on a way to an All-Ireland Final was huge for us. The girls will take great confidence from that. Especially from the second half performance.”

Ronayne and his team may well have been planning for Parnell Park, a venue they know well, however the shift to LIT Gaelic Grounds really holds no fear for the manager or his team.

“Look, it is handier for supporters so that is definitely a good thing. Honestly, it wouldn’t bother us where the game was on.

“We have gotten to know Parnell Park after playing there a few times in recent years but look a few of the girls will have played inter-county football in

“The Gaelic Grounds as well so I suppose that should help. The venue might also help to bring in plenty neutrals and that is obviously another plus.”

Kilkerrin-Clonberne may be seen by many as a surprise package in the final this season, but Ronayne predicted this final months ago and knows well what his team will face this time round.

“I was talking to the Wards’ [Louise and Nicola] father at the All Stars the other night and reminded him that I had said this would be the final back at the league All Stars. I am not surprised they are there.

“They were very good last year and just didn’t take their chances but they are a serious outfit.

“They have All Star Nicola Ward back from injury last year and a lot of their younger players are another year older and wiser and better.

“They have five or six Galway seniors so I am not surprised that such a serious outfit is in the final. Will be a very different test this week from the one in the semi-final.”

So what will Mourneabbey have to do to secure their second All Ireland crown? Well, according to the sides head tactician it all comes down to that final pass and the decision making under pressure.

“I was looking back at the semi-final today and I thought that a lot of our decision making, our last pass and our option taking wasn’t very good for the first half and even the start of the second half.

“The last 20 minutes we started taking the right options but for 30 minutes there or more the option taking was poor. It was good in the Munster Final so perhaps we just concentrated too much on our defence the last day. We went into that game worried about the four goals we conceded in the provincial final and that must have had an impact.

“For this one we have worked on the defence so we now need to work on the attack and hopefully it will all come right on the final.”

Managers and players often spend far too much time concentrating on the opposition to see just what talent is in front of them, but Ronayne is clear that his side have it all when they play like he knows they can.

“When we get it right they are a joy to watch, they can cut teams open and even the last day some of those passes go to hand in the first half and they are in on goal again. We have very clever, very skilful and very driven players and the last day they were just forcing it a little at times.

“If they can play like we know they can next Saturday night then it will be very hard to defend it – even many inter-county teams would struggle to defend it and for us that is the key to it – taking the right options when the time comes and we will see from there.”