Complacency won’t be an issue as a one point win will do for Terry & Glencar Manorhamilton

Six Final appearances in a row and chasing four wins on the trot, Glencar Manorhamilton might be allowed a little bit of ‘been there, done that’ but according to Terry McManus, complacency will not be an issue for the champions as they seek to defend their title against St Joseph’s on Saturday in Drumshanbo.

Asked how he guards against overconfidence given Glencar Manor’s run of success, Terry, who is joint manager alongside Brian McDonald, said “Obviously, complacency is the biggest problem you need to face down early on and we’re confident that we’ve handled that problem so that complacency won’t be an issue.

“When you’re on a winning roll, complacency can be an issue but we don’t think it will be because we played St Joseph’s in the last round out in Boggaun a few weeks ago and they scored 2-10 against us so we know what we’re facing, a team that can score 2-10 have a lot to offer, it is going to be tough, extremely tough because we respect St Joseph’s greatly.”

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In fact, the message to the Glencar Manorhamilton players is that they are chasing their first title, not their fourth in a row according to Terry: “We’re very happy to be in the final because it is not easy to get to a final in Leitrim because there are three or four or five very strong teams - we’re just delighted to be in the final. 

“Every year the team changes slightly, different players coming, different players going and you end up with some players going for their first title this year so what I would say with this particular team is that we’re in our first real Senior Final as a group.”

Even if there was a presumption that the champions are overwhelming favourites, Terry points to games this year to show the challenges ahead: “The draw with Ballinamore was a blessing in disguise. We went up to Corlough that morning and they were superb on the day. But actually, we came back from the dead twice, we went seven points down on two different occasions and we came back to get a draw. 

“We took a lot of positives out of it. Sean O’Heslins that day were playing at a very high level and we did very well to get a draw against them and we actually did a lot of good stuff that day. St Joseph’s are going to be tough, they’re a physical, strong team and they know what it takes to win and they’re going to throw a lot of problems at us but hopefully, we can throw more problems at them. 

“It is going to be tough, they are used to winning, they’ve great experience and they have four or five extremely strong and experienced players leading them. It is going to be tough but we’ll be ready.”

A very experienced manager having led numerous Manor teams at every level, Terry stresses the same principles applying to managing Ladies teams as mens: “Myself and Brian McDonald are joint managers, we’re in it together and his brother Anthony helps us a good bit as well so I just want to acknowledge that because they’re really good lads.

“For me, it is the same principles. Personally, it has been an extremely enjoyable year because the level of commitment and standards they set is very, very high. You have to be on your game every night at training because they expect very high standards and it is just a joy for me to work with them.

“Obviously there is a bit of an age gap between me and a lot of the girls but I get the same thrill out of it that I got 30 years ago but my honest assessment is that they’re a fantastic group to work with.”

Any talk of Glencar Manorhamilton naturally leads to Muireann Devaney and her county colleagues Leah Fox, Rebecca Rooney, Ailbhe Clancy and Aoife Gilmartin but Terry stresses the team above the individual: “I look at the team rather than individuals because you won’t achieve much unless you look at the collective. We’ve over 25 players fully committed to it and there are a number of girls who will be starting in their first final so it is lovely to see it moving on. 

“We do have a lot of quality, there is no point trying to deny it - we have great girls with great leadership ability so we’re glad to have them.”

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Yet there is no doubt that Devaney is a special player but what marks the dual sports star out for Terry is her commitment to the group: “Muireann is, for me, the ultimate team player. She drives the whole team along with her county colleagues but it is just a joy for a manager to work with people like Muireann Devaney and all the other girls, it is just brilliant. There is no messing about, they work hard.”

As for a verdict, Terry would be happy with a one point victory: “Myself and Brian have tried to cover every angle on it and if we have our work done, we’re in with a shout just the same as Josephs. If we come out of Drumshanbo with a one point win, we’ll be jumping around the place, I guarantee that - a one point win will do us!”