Up to Fenagh St Callins to change their Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Semi-Final hoodoo

The nerves were jangling in the press box, whatever about the stands, as the final minutes of last Sunday’s enthralling Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC semi-final ticked down but, for Fenagh St Caillins Bobby O’Rourke, games are not as stressful as the time in between, even games as hectic as the 1-21 apiece extra-time draw with Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins!

Asked by the Observer after the draw how he coped with the tension along the sideline, Bobby smilingly said “It's funny enough - I probably spent 12 months of the year worrying and, actually, on game day, I don't worry. Maybe that's a silly way to be, I prepare as best we can and when you go into the game, that's all you can do!

“We played well against the wind and so did Ballinamore, there is nothing between the two teams and, I know it's a cliche, you look at both teams, they're nearly mirror images of each other.”

What pleased the Fenagh manager most was the resilience of his players, even if the first half display didn’t live up to expectations: “I'm proud of the lads. If I’m being honest, early on, we probably were a bit undercooked. Our last game was against Melvin Gaels, and it was a tough game, but it was three weeks ago. Ballinamore played Carrick that same day and went on to beat Aughawillan after that. 

“But they were games and they played out there in Pairc Sean so maybe we were a bit undercooked, but that's not to take from Ballinamore.”

REACTION: WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE SAYS BALLINAMORE'S MARY HENRY

Some tough talk at halftime prompted Fenagh’s second half resurgence: “Obviously, there were some rough words at halftime - I'll call a spade a spade that way but they're battlers, they're battling all year. We've tried to put that bit of steel into them and I think it's there.”

That leads to the perception that Fenagh are unable to get over their semi final hoodoo but, harkening back to his own playing days, Bobby acknowledges that and says it is up to Fenagh to change it: “That perception is out there and I suppose there's nothing we can do about it until we change it. 

“Nobody likes bad things said about you but it's up to these lads to change that. I told the lads in there, not alone with the team I and all their fathers were on, we didn't get over the line. It's a big thing for us and it's probably putting a bit of weight on their shoulders.”

Any questions over Fenagh’s resolve were answered by the determination of key players to battle through the pain barrier: “A lot of sore bodies in there, we had three or four lads injured going into that game - no normal manager would play them but a lot of the fellas might say maybe I'm not normal,” joked Bobby.

“Even Ruairi (his son), I'll probably get killed when I go home because he's not supposed to be playing at all. But you'll do it for the jersey. They're good lads. I just hope that we can come back next week and perform again.”

As for the replay, Bobby simply says “Ballinamore are Ballinamore, they’re a hard team to beat, always were but we are a hard team to beat too. The plan is we'll probably train once this week and try to get some of those bodies right. 

“The physio will be busy and just get them right and just get the heads right for next Sunday, we look forward to it,” concluded Bobby before quipping “I'm back worried again now!”