WICKLOW’S LADIES READY TO FACE LAOIS IN LEINSTER DECIDER

Ladies set for Leinster showdown with Laois

THE Wicklow ladies footballers are just one step away from Leinster glory when they take to the field in Netwatch Cullen Park this Sunday at 2pm to face Laois in the Intermediate provincial decider.

It’s been an amazing season so far for Mick O’Rourke’s women who are going for their 12th win on the trot and while Laois are favourites the Wicklow boss believes that the Garden County side holds their own advantages going into the big showdown.

‘You have to look at Laois, Laois are only down from Senior and have been in Senior for a long, long time,’ Said Mick O’Rourke.

‘I can remember when I was previously involved back in 2009/2010, Wicklow were in a Junior final down in Carlow while the likes of Laois were competing against Dublin in a Senor final and winning it, so no matter what, Laois have come down from Senior and they’ll have that bit of experience which is a big thing for them, the only thing I’ll say that we hold over them is we’ve competed in two national finals in the last two years, lost one, won the one this year, so that’s a big thing for us coming into the final this year, the girls have players in finals already, Laois are heading into their first final so maybe it might create a bit of nerves in the camp.

O’Rourke says that his side will be going into this game with no pressure and absolutely nothing to lose.

‘We know going into this that we have absolutely nothing to lose, we have 11 from 11 this year and we’re going to keep building and keep working on that and keep the positives in our camp, Laois will prepare and do whatever they need to do to beat us next Sunday,’ he said.

The Wicklow camp is amazing place to be at this moment in time and one of the main reasons is the positive attitude that exists within the tight-knit group.

‘It’s going very well,’ said Mick O’Rourke when asked about the mood in the camp. I have to say one thing about our sessions: always great positivity and that’s kind of fed down from management but it also comes from the second those girls come out from the dressing room doors they’re there as a unit, it’s all about Wicklow, they’re representing their clubs and their families, but they always bring that positivity into training. No matter what time you tell them, as you say we’re here early this morning, whether it’s an evening session, once we fix the session the girls don’t have a moan or a whinge, they’re eager to get here. They all have a hunger and they’ve got a taste of victory with the league final and they want more,’ he said.

Preview interviews inside.