Matthew Murphy hopes final experience will stand to Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins are back in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final and certainly long serving defender Matthew Murphy hopes that the experience of playing in three finals, four if you include last year's replay, will stand to them next Sunday against Leitrim Gaels.

A nine-point victory over Fenagh St. Caillin’s in a hard-fought semi-final replay in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Sunday evening sends Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins into the Leitrim final for the third time in five years.

“Fenagh are a great team and we're just happy to come away with a win now today and get through to the final … We knew after last week that it was going to be another ding-dong battle and it was up until maybe halfway through the second half,” said Matthew Murphy, Ballinamore corner-back and ex-Leitrim footballer.

Fenagh showed an ability to hit two-pointers from range at important moments in the drawn game, and Ballinamore came up with a plan to step out to keep them from doing the same again, while keeping dangerous forwards like the Riordan and Ryan O’Rourke quiet in the space left inside.

“It's kind of finding that balance, I suppose, between pushing out and sitting in, but I think we got it today fairly good. Shut them out well for the majority of the game.”

REACHING THE CONNACHT GOLD LEITRIM SFC FINAL MEANS THE WORLD TO DONAL CASEY

Ballinamore haven't met this year's new look Leitrim Gaels so far in the championship but according to Murphy, they are fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead of them next week when they meet a Leitrim Gaels team who laid waste to back-to-back champions Mohill in the semi-final.

“Leitrim Gaels have been favourites since the start of the year. So, we know they're going to bring a huge, huge test … It'll just be a case of us trying to lift the levels now.”

The fact that Fenagh and Ballinamore’s semi-final clash went to a replay means that the team will only have one week to get their house in order after two hard-fought matches, before going to meet Leitrim Village, who have had the last three weeks on the sidelines.

“I know we only have a week until the final, but it'll just be recovery and just try to get ourselves set up as best we can for next week and get the bodies right and give it our best shot.”

In contrast to Leitrim Gaels, who will be making their first-ever appearance in a county final, this Ballinamore team will be well used to county finals and will be hoping that that experience will stand them next Sunday afternoon.

“It's definitely something that motivates you. We're a settled team that's been there for a good few years now … So there is serious experience in the dressing room, like anything that we get, we've seen before.

 “Nothing's going to phase us for next weekend. We're just going to be tuned in and ready to take it head-on. It's going to be another battle. We're going to give it our all, and whoever works the hardest will come out on top.”

After coming so close and losing to Mohill on penalties last season in the county final after a replay, Ballinamore are eager to go one step further here and take the Fenagh cup home.

“We know the group of players we have here. Serious talent in the squad. Every year it's one of the aims to get to the final and then to win it. Especially last year, losing on penalties after the two drawn games was tough to take … It was definitely a huge goal to get there. Hopefully we get to go one further now next weekend and get the foot over the line.”