St Joseph's have nothing to lose in Sweeney Oil Leitrim LGFA Final says Doyle

It might seem as if Brian Doyle is talking down his team’s chances against Glencar Manorhamilton in Saturday’s Sweeney Oil LGFA SFC Final in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada. But no, the St Joseph’s manager stresses that his team have nothing to lose when they take on the champions!

Speaking to the Observer after the semi-final victory over St Mary’s Kiltoghert, Brian set his sights on yet another meeting with the defending champions and stressed his team have nothing to lose! “That's what I've said to the girls even - what have we to lose? We've nothing to lose and we’re looking forward to it.

“It's great to be in the final - we have to stay focused and work hard over the next two weeks and do what we've been doing all year long. We didn't do it in the first half today, but we certainly did it in spades in the second half. We bring that the next day, who knows what will happen?

“If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose - nobody's sick, nobody's died, life goes on. The Final is  where we want to be. I'm sure if you went into the Carrick dressing room there, they'd like to be there, by hook or by crook. We're happy to be there, but being there is one thing. Whatever comes on Saturday, we'll take it on the chin. 

“As I said to the girls at the end, what's the worst that will happen? We lose a game of football. So it's just another game of football for us. We're delighted to be there.”

OLD FOES REUNITED AS GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON & ST JOSEPH'S REACH SWEENEY OIL LGFA SFC FINAL

Glencar Manorhamilton are looking for a sixth title in a row but Brian believes the two teams bring the best out of each other: “I think we'd bring the best out in each other, certainly in the last two finals. We were very disappointed after last year, not so much the year before because we weren't expecting much  after losing a lot of players and that.

“Definitely, we were very disappointed last year but this year is a new year and just get on with it. It's just another game of football.”

One game where St Joseph’s showed their grit was in the semi-final win over St Mary’s and Brian admits he was worried: “It was a great game, proper championship football. Semi finals are for winning but you want to win and come out on the right side of it. At halftime it didn't look good, but in fairness to the girls, they never panicked.

“We knuckled down, we knew we were better than we showed in the first half and we showed in the second half. So a bit of grit and determination and fitness - that's all you can ask of your team or of your players, get turnovers, keep the intensity, stick at it to the very end. It didn't look great in the first half and all that is down to Carrick, the way they played and set up. But I knew at the back of my mind that they  weren't fit to keep that pace going for the game.

“That's what happened, they brought that intensity in the first half. We brought it in the second half. Games are never won or lost in the first half - it is always in the last ten minutes.”

Also key was a switch in freetakers with Bronagh O’Rourke taking over the duties but Brian has huge faith in both place kickers: “Kate was just having an off day and we just switched over to Bronagh and that was it. We got everything after that, maybe one or two we didn’t.”

As for Sunday’s Final, Brian promises St Joseph’s will give it their all: “Whatever comes on the day , we'll give it our best shot. We're a clean bill of health there, I hope. We'll give it a go. We'll give it socks on Saturday!”