Winning with your club is just another level says Ballinamore's All-Star Sarah McLoughlin

You could say that Sarah McLoughlin has been there, done that in a storied career that included an All-Star, an All-Ireland victory, clubs honours galore so when the Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins player describes Saturday's Connacht LGFA Intermediate Final victory as "just another level", it gives mere mortals an idea of what victory in Markievicz Park truly means to Sarah and her teammates.

Asked how did the 1-10 to 1-9 over Eoghan Rua rate beside her other achievements, Sarah gave a typically reflective answer: "It is right up there with all of them - playing with Leitrim is phenomenal, especially back then, you really were playing with your best mates. We had a team going for about ten years where we were literally sisters.

"But to win with your club, with your club crest on you, it is just another level. To be here today and every single person is Ballinamore people, all the people who have given so much to the club over the years and to have them here cheering you on, there is no feeling like, it is absolutely phenomenal."

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins guts and resilience defies Eoghan Rua first half onslaught to claim Connacht Intermediate title

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS 1-10 EOGHAN RUA 1-9

Attributing Ballinamore’s success to belief and a willingness to work hard, Sarah was the first to acknowledge how close Eoghan Rua were to victory on the day: “Belief first of all and we just said we have to work hard. Adrian Smith said during the week to us that the team that wins today is the team that works hardest. 

“Eoghan Rua will definitely walk away from this feeling they left it behind them - I was up the other end for about 15 minutes, watching about 10 wides and they will definitely look back on that. But every time the ball came back up, we made use of it and I feel that when we had possession, we made better use of it.”

Ballinamore’s not so secret weapon was the amazing support they got from the fans scattered around Markievicz Park: “You talk about the last ten minutes, when the legs were gone and everybody was down, the cheering from our supporters, hearing Ballinamore being called.

“Those last two or three minutes being told all we need to do is just hold possession and knowing that every single person here wanted us to win this, that crowd just gives you so much strength.”

An All-Ireland Semi-Final awaits but looking at the bigger picture, Sarah stresses the need for Ballinamore to build on this success: “Eoghan Rua losing to us by a point was Kiltubrid losing by a point last year, Manor setting the bar a few years now. Aughawillan won this back in 2005 as well, there is so much talent in Leitrim and we’re getting better and better. 

Wild celebrations as Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins win Connacht LGFA Intermediate title - GALLERY

Markievicz Park was the scene of wild celebrations as Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins defied the odds and a superb Eoghan Rua Sligo team to claim the Connacht LGFA Intermediate Club Championship title on a 1-10 to 1-9 scoreline. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some great images of the celebrations ..... see who you can spot!

“Look at the girls here, we only put the team together in 2003, 2004. I used to teach a lot of these kids here and they never heard of football. Football for Ladies in Ballinamore is quite new, it is only 20 years in the making and now the fact that we’re senior, winning Connacht Intermediate titles - we just need to drive on from this.”

One unfortunate side effect of Saturday’s historic victory is that a visit for Sarah’s son Bobby to see Santa may now fall victim to the demands of training! “Honest to God, I feel like Christmas is cancelled! We have a Santa Express booked for two weeks and now I feel like we have to cancel. But sure, we’ll be training.”