‘There’s nine steps to win this league – we’ve only taken seven’

THE history books only show the winners. So unless Wicklow ladies can win two more matches, their superb 100% league record will disappear without a trace.

With seven wins from seven thus far, the Garden County ladies have carved themselves out as the favourites and have sketched a target on their own back.

Mick O’Rourke has watched with pride from the dugout as his troops took on and defeated seven different opponents but it is the least that the manager expected from his excellent squad.

Despite the confidence gained from their perfect record, Wicklow will not think they have it made before their last four outing.

“That was the target we set ourselves. We wanted to get the seven out of seven and make it to the semi-finals.

“There were good performances throughout. Winning is a habit.

“We won’t underestimate anyone. Teams will have played well and will have raised their performances coming into the semi-finals and they’ll start to peak so we won’t underestimate anyone.

“There’s no point winning seven games if you don’t take the next two steps as well.”

The women of Antrim are the opponents, a side Wicklow dispatched with relative ease in Roundwood in February.

O’Rourke will begin to plot the Dafron’s downfall this weekend as his players return to the bread-and-butter stuff and forget about county duties for a few days at least.

“The big thing that we have going for us is that we have a great squad of girls that sacrifice so much for the county. They’re absolutely brilliant and the effort that they put in is brilliant.

“It’s a huge credit to each and every one of them. The respect they have for each other is brilliant.

“We’re happy enough. We’ll get them back together on Tuesday night (last night) and then we’ll release them back to their clubs for a week. We’ll be back together then the following Tuesday night and we’ll start building towards the semi-final.”

With Antrim undoubtedly being underdogs, Wicklow will not let the favourites tag enter their head as there are no prizes given out for winning seven matches.

“We’re the the team to be beaten - absolutely,” said Mick O’Rourke.

“We are the team to be beaten. The girls know that though and they know well enough that there’s nine steps to win this league and we’ve only taken seven.”