‘This is the level these players want to be playing at’
ENNISKILLEN Gaels manager Simon Bradley says his players are eager to test themselves on the Ulster Club stage with the Fermanagh champions set to face Cavan winners Gowna at Brewster Park on Saturday night.
The Gaels won their first Senior Championship title in 16 years when seeing off Erne Gaels two weeks ago and while they celebrated that, Bradley stresses that the squad were keen to get back to work and focus on this Saturday’s game.
“The players went and enjoyed themselves for a couple of days but to be honest it was the players who asked to get back to training on the Wednesday so I’m delighted with that attitude.
“This is the level that these players want to be playing at, they made that clear to me when I got involved three years ago and they are there now and they are not just there to make up the numbers. They believe that they can push on,” said Bradley.
With the Fermanagh final having been pushed back a week due to a waterlogged pitch, it meant that they have a week less to get ready but is happy enough with how things have gone.
“The preparations have gone alright. We have only had two collective sessions on Friday and Sunday and we’ll go again on Wednesday. Three sessions is probably not ideal but given he circumstances and with boys back in Belfast and Dublin and others back across the water we are happy enough with that,” he added.
The sides have met previously in Ulster, albeit 20 years ago when they clashed at the semi-final stage and on that occasion Enniskillen had four points to spare.
Gowna have links to that side involved with the current set up with Dermot Mccabe now manager having played in that game while Mark Mckeever is still playing and is a player that the Gaels will be wary of.
And Bradley is expecting a tough test against the Cavan outfit.
“Cavan club football is very strong. There was probably five, six or seven teams that could have won the championship in Cavan this year and they are all going for it so if you come out on top in Cavan you are a quality team.
“From what we have seen of Gowna, they are very strong, very quick and they like to run the ball. They have a wee bit of experience and depth with a couple of older players who really help them. It is going to be a challenge and we are just glad it is at home which is all you can really wish for at this stage,” he commented.
Indeed, he believes that home advantage is big in games like this.
“Hopefully, if the pitch is playable, it is going to be a huge advantage. You have no travelling to the game, it’s familiar changing rooms, you know where the posts are on your home pitch so hopefully we can make that pay off.”
He has also stressed that Ulster Club football is a different type of football to what the players would be used to in Fermanagh.
“It tends to be more physical and referees tend to let more go. It is teams that haven’t played against one another so there is a bit of feeling out to be done and very often a good game of football breaks out!”
Gowna have some key players in the likes of Cian Madden, Conor Madden and Conor Brady and Bradley knows that it is going to be a step up for his charges from the county final.
“In fairness to Erne Gaels they probably didn’t do themselves justice on the day and underperformed but once you get to this level you get one chance and teams are coming in giving it everything that they have so it is a step up and in terms of quality the Ulster Club is a step up from most county championships.
“I do believe though that if the players perform then we have a great chance but it is getting that performance and the self belief on the day. The players have to believe that they belong at this level and if they do then they have an excellent opportunity of progressing but if they don’t perform then they will be found out,” he said.