Adrian Sorohan hopes new Allen Gaels generation can carve out their own path

When you realise that it is 22 years since Allen Gaels’ first team contested a major championship final, you understand why Adrian Sorohan and his teammates are so eager to carve out a new path for the Drumshanbo men in next Sunday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Final.

Allen Gaels face the formidable Melvin Gaels in the decider in Ballinamore (3.30 pm throw-in) but for Adrian, a major championship final is a new departure for the club: “I've never played one... a lot of lads there that have never played in a championship final. It's brilliant for the club.”

Of course that leads to talk of Allen Gaels’ incredible record of five Senior championships in 12 years and Adrian admits that the legacy is something the current generation want to live up to: “I've heard it all about them - that's what we grew up on, hearing about the late 90s, early 90s teams. We were probably always in their shadow so it's great now that we can carve out a new path.”

It is not for want of trying - the Drumshanbo men have twice fallen at the semi-final years since they were relegated back in 2021, ironically it was Melvin Gaels who consigned them to the drop but Adrian feels that this year just felt different: “It just feels different. We're building something here that's really good, really strong.

“It was our third time at the semi-final but I just feel it was different this year in the build-up. The last couple of years, I don't know, even the weather and stuff like that was worse. I think we were more nervous going into games in the last couple of years, but there was something different this year. 

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“We kind of hit form at the right time. We drew our first two games. There was a lot of talk of relegation at the start of the championship and thankfully then we hit form then with Aughnasheelin and Aughavas and we've been growing then the whole time.”

The corner-back puts that down to the atmosphere in the camp, and indeed the entire club, creditting manager James Flynn, selector Stephen Tiernan and Club Chairperson Berni Lynch in particular: “There's a brilliant vibe about the club, there is such a camaraderie with all the lads, there's no divide at all. Everyone gets on really well. 

“The managers too - James Flynn and Stephen have created that with us and Bernie Lynch, our chairperson. I've played Allen Gaels for years now. When we were first coming on, there was always such a divide but now it feels like everyone's behind us. Everyone's driving us on, sponsorship and everything. We just have a really good background.”

That translates into action on the field with Adrian using an example from the semi-final victory over Drumkeerin to make his point: “Emmett Moran was dropped, second half came on, he made the difference - gave the ball in, got a goal himself. We've that coming off the bench. 

“Everyone on the team knows, you put a shift in because there's another man ready to come on. I think we've someone in every single position that's ready and itching to come on. 

It's not 15 lads, it's 26 lads we have at training. All mad to get in. The juniors were knocked out a couple of weeks ago and we still have all those lads at training.”

Of course, Adrian knows all too well of the threat posed by Melvin Gaels: “Melvin Gaels are a tough team.Peter McGowan makes a big difference around midfield. Melvin Gael are always strong and if you picked a team at the start of the year to win Intermediate, Melvin Gaels would have been top of your list.”

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The return of Radek Oberwan has helped Allen Gaels: “Radek hasn't played a bit of club football for us this year, he was massive against Drumkeerin, credit to them, their strengths with Declan Daly in midfield and stuff like that. It was brilliant to have someone like Radek come on and compete in midfield.

“Ciarán McMorrow has been brilliant again this year but we have strengths all over the field and it is not like there's one or two, we’ve got brilliant depth - we have Martin Rafferty, Shane Byrne, Brian Byrne, all coming off, all having an impact.”

As for a verdict, Adrian said “I suppose you have a quiet confidence the whole time. We have a big two weeks. Melvin Gaels are a very, very strong outfit. We're hoping to get a performance against them and whatever happens on the day, happens.”