Patrick looks for Melvin Gaels hunger to see them to Intermediate crown

Melvin Gaels may have been the favourites for this year’s Smith Monumentals IFC title the second they were relegated last year but captain Patrick McGowan doesn’t see it that way as he reckons the Kinlough men will have to display real hunger to win the title.

Asked about the Gaels being anointed instant favourites for the title, Paddy said “I don’t know, that’s the talk every year, they always reckon that it is a quick jump back up but there is twice as much work to get out of intermediate so there is. It was a big blow getting relegated but we’ve been through it a few times in the last 13 years.

“We’re just lucky enough that we have the character to bounce back, we have lads who come home from all parts to play - we had one lad who came home from a holiday for the semi-final to play, we have lads flying in from England every weekend for training - there is dedication there, taking off an extra night during the week to be at a Monday training session so it all comes together when they want it.”

Mohill stop St Mary's two in a row bid to reclaim Fenagh Cup with superb second half display

MOHILL 2-10 ST MARY'S KILTOGHERT 0-14

It is that bit of hunger and desire that Patrick sees in his teammates and next Sunday’s Final won’t be an occasion for pretty football but the hunger to get across the line: “When you get to October, Finals aren’t going to be fast, they’re not going to be what you were used to in the first few rounds in August but it is all luck on the day, a bit of hunger and taking your scores when you get in front of the posts.”

With 15 players in the squad U20 or U21, it is a young Gaels team while the addition of Gary Clancy has been a huge help: “The majority of our team is U20 and U21s mixing four or five over 30s. Peter knows his way around the pitch - we got Gary Clancy in this year on a transfer, a huge help, huge experience, his cousins are playing with us and he is living in Kinlough so he is a couple of years there, a great addition.”

One thing that stands out about Melvin Gaels is their defensive unit which is incredibly tough to get through and as a card carrying corner-back, Patrick admits it is tough work: “There is a lot of work going into that there and it is all about communication and when  and where we are on the field. We hard to get through the centre so a strong spine is the main part of it. 

“You have to talk yourself, talk the whole team through it, one to 15. If three doesn’t talk to six, it is kind of a pointless task, you have to keep everyone in line. The effort is going into it and when it is working in training, it should work in a game - why change it if it is going well?”

Championship  appears to bring out the best in the Kinlough men after an indifferent League: “Championship was always the aim -  it didn’t work out in the League, we were going down when we lost the first three games. Picked it up a bit, lost the last League game but did just enough to stay in Division 2 and then we just focused on the championship, got a run and haven’t lost bar a draw.”

Late goal seals Melvin Gaels place in Final

MELVIN GAELS 1-6 KILTUBRID 0-6

As for his opponents on Sunday, the Gaels captain is wary: “Annaduff were in three out of the last four finals, unlucky to still be in the Intermediate. Allen Gaels, we put them down two years ago and there is going to be a bit of fight there as well, a bit of redemption on both sides. It is not going to be simple whoever we get.”

Looking ahead to the final, Gary hopes Melvin Gaels can produce when the game is on the line: “Confident is one word but we still have a lot of work to put in, a County Final is about whoever turns up on the day. You might have two or three lads on either team who don’t show up, the nerves might get the better of them but if the rest of the team can pick it up for that 35 minutes in the second half, that’s when it is won or lost.”