'League Final was a big learning curve' says Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins' Shane Moran

Experts believe you learn more from a defeat than you do in victory and that’s certainly the case for Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins, believes Shane Moran, after his team’s loss in the Division 1 League Final sharply focused minds for the championship and provided an extra inspiration for their Semi-Final victory over St Mary’s.

Speaking ahead of next Sunday’s Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final, Shane reflected on what that League Final loss to Mary’s meant: “I think it was a big learning curve for us that we weren't going to have everything go our way the entire year which was good to get that then and not now.

“But look, we took a lot of learnings from it. We worked hard and I think we had an extra bit of bite in us today after that defeat. It was always a building process at the start of the year. A lot of work was done and not too much on the tactical side so we really focused on the last couple of weeks.

“So look we're just building performance kind of session by session and we just know we have to build again in two weeks time.”

Their semi-final victory over St Mary’s was a big turnaround from the League Final and the key according to Shane was Ballinamore keeping their heads: “I think not panicking was the big thing. Yes, they got the goal, just one drop by Tom and the next thing, counterattack and a goal and it was tough to take.

“We didn't panic - we stuck to our plan and we just kept creeping back point by point. We knew there wasn't much to it. Sometimes you get a goal and you sit back and invite teams on so we knew there would be a chance but look it was a titanic battle with Carrick. They're a fabulous team and I know they'll be there for the next couple of years.”

For Shane, 2024 has been different as a new home in Monaghan coincided with a break from inter-county action and it is all about managing the various demands of life: “I moved there at the start of the year but up to Monaghan just outside Emyvale, Truagh is the club the wife is from.

“Look it's been hard - I think it was two days before I moved that I met Mark Henry, the manager and broke the news, and I don't think he knew about it. But there was never a fear I was going to transfer, it was always a thing that I'd be committing to the lads for as long as I can and as long as the body will let me.

“It was hard to step away from the County but just with everything I had at the time, the body just wasn't able to cope. That's been one of the things this year, having the time and Mark's been very understanding. If the body's not fit to travel or to take a session, I'll step off and just keep myself fresh.”

The growing maturity of young players on the Ballinamore Senior team has also helped: “It's been massive, the likes of Paul Honeyman, my own brother Paul, you have Michael McKiernan, Senan Harte, they're just getting years under them and they're becoming dominant players for us around the middle.

“If I'm not having a good day or Dean or Wayne are not having a good day, these boys are stepping up which is brilliant to see but there's so many other lads underneath them as well that hopefully in the next year or two they'll step up too.”

Mention of Dean McGovern is tough as the 2022 captain misses Sunday’s Final with injury and Shane feels his absence more than most: “Massive, massive loss - I'm feeling it definitely around the middle not having him either but it just means I have to step up that bit more and the lads around me.

“We lost Senan and Luke just before the semi-final so that was a big hit but a lot of teams could kind of see two lads gone right before the game and the heads would go down. But we just knew we'd have to work that extra harder.”

Mohill are the opponents and Shane instinctively knows how difficult the challenge will be: “I haven't thought too much about it but yeah it's going to be a cracking game. We always try to go toe-to-toe with Mohill, they're a serious team. They've set the standard for the last 10 years in Leitrim so I'm looking forward to it - hopefully a good day of football and see how it goes.”
Playing a County Senior Final on your home pitch is, however, a novelty but Shane does not believe that factor will bring any extra pressure: “To have it here is fantastic but again look we know there's one more job to do. We can't think too far ahead - there's a lot of teams that haven't got a County Final and I’ve only being in two after the last 13 years playing.

“It makes the day extra special, absolutely and I think it definitely helps - just the crowds, supporters, everyone getting behind you, it's massive. Look if it's here, if it's in Pairc Sean or if it is in Mohill, we don't mind.

“But as soon as you cross the line, you're on 15 against 15 and that's it. We're looking forward to it. I don't think it's going to take anything away from us - we're just going to treat it like any other game and hopefully we can go one step further.”

READ MORE: 'We just have to get our heads down' - Mohill manager Eamonn O'Hora on Leitrim SFC Final