Experienced players helped young Aughavas across the line - Conor Canning

Most of the talk after Sunday’s Fresh Today Junior A Final may have been about Aughavas’ young players but for captain Conor Canning, it was the experience of the club’s older brigade that proved vital against Drumreilly in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin, writes John Connolly.

Reflecting on the journey to lifting the Dick Ellis Memorial Cup, Conor told the Observer “We started in November doing gym. We put in all the hard work, everyone out and especially getting a few of the older lads like Paul Bohan and David Charles back was a big help. That bit of experience in the squad drove us on. We are a very young squad, average age around 21 but out there today, you wouldn't even notice any of them are young lads or inexperienced.”

Of course, having a player like Eanna McNamara in your squad helps and Conor sang the praises of the Leitrim Senior & U20 star: “It is a great boost to have Eanna, it is mighty to have him there and I hope he gets on well with the County.”

Looking at the game, Conor said Aughavas’ focus was on not allowing Drumreilly built up a head of steam: “We knew that Drumreilly would come out with full force so we just kept it tight. We knew we had fitness from all through the year and we were going to push on. 

“The goal after halftime, to get that goal, took a bit of pressure off but we still had to keep tight and make sure that Drumreilly didn't get anything back straight away after it. Drumreilly are physical, a strong team and a great bunch of lads and I'm sure they'll be up there next year fighting for the Junior title.”

As for Connacht, Conor simply says “We'll see who we have to play and we'll give it a go. That's all we can do.”