Geevagh team set to dig deep in Markievicz Park decider
Club anxious to make silverware impact in the Intermediate final
GEEVAGH’S Ladies Footballers are set to contest what could be described in some respects as a ‘local’ provincial final in Markievicz Park this weekend.
The east Sligo team face Glencar-Manorhamilton in the Connacht LGFA Intermediate Club Championship final in Markievicz Park on Saturday (12 noon start), one of three provincial club finals which have been seven months in the making having originally been scheduled for mid-October.
David Gaffney, joint-manager of Geevagh along with Sean Breheny, said it has been a long road to finally getting to play this important fixture as the players had to spend much of the recent lockdown preparing themselves for if and when it would finally be played. “It has been a very long wait. We had a great win down in Galway on October 4 [the Connacht semi-final] and we were due to play this game two weeks later but unfortunately that was put back.” “It was a shame because we were flying at the time and it is a long period of time for the players to keep themselves ready for this.” Geevagh, albeit with very little opportunity, have played two games in preparation for this weekend’s showdown against Leitrim’s finest.
Gaffney and Breheny did not have a full complement at their disposal due to other commitments but are confident they will potentially have their entire panel to choose from as some players recover from recent knocks. Gaffney said: “We have had a challenge game and one Sligo LGFA Senior League game. We would have been missing players due to county commitments and others recently returned to work in the hospitality sector, but we are glad to have gotten the opportunity to get important minutes into everyone available. We have a few knocks which we are hopeful will be cleared by Saturday.”
Gaffney said there is a local feeling to this Intermediate showcase and feels it presents a good opportunity for the game in both counties moving forward.
“We would know plenty of the names on the Glencar-Manorhamilton panel and the coaching staff. It is very neighbourly to have a provincial final with a Sligo team and Leitrim team involved which adds an extra dimension to it and it is brilliant for both counties.”
Due to Covid-19 restrictions still placing limits on sporting occasions, there has been very little opportunity to get a recent look at Saturday’s opposition which includes a number of inter-county players – including a soccer forward who may be better known here for her exploits with underage Sligo Rovers and Republic of Ireland sides. “There were no games to go and see them – you just had to research them with what you already had available.”
“If you look at the Leitrim inter-county team, six of their panel play for Glencar-Manorhamilton so they will be a formidable outfit. They have players like Muireann Devaney, a very talented soccer and Ladies Football player.”
“It is a very balanced side but we have a good mix of youth and experience as well.” Ultimately, however, Gaffney said the priority is not looking at how his opponents are preparing. His own side have shown the grit and determination needed to yield big results to get to this stage and they are working to ensure those same players are in the best possible position to do this again.
Gaffney said: “If you focus on the other team too much then there’s something wrong. You have to make sure your team is physically and mentally
ready for the weekend.” “This group has come through some very tough games where they had to dig deep to get the right result.”
He continued: “We know what our players can do, it is just a matter of doing it on the day and once we get out on the field we have to hit them on the front foot.” “We have to make our experience count as the game goes on – if we get into a position where we can and need to control it.”
Gaffney said it is also an exciting prospect to have supporters at Saturday’s final to provide some sense of occasion for the players.
“It will be great to see fans there. It will only be a couple hundred people but it will be wonderful to hear any kind of roar and it is a boost to players to have family and friends present for the occasion. “The talk during the last few months in Geevagh has been about this game and supporters will get in, so it is going to be huge for everyone from both clubs.”
“Our fans getting to see this game is massive for us because there are a lot of people in Geevagh who are great supporters of this team.”