The only way to beat Melvin Gaels was to outwork them says Annaduff manager Joe Cox

If there is one thing Annaduff brings to the table, it is immense commitment so it was no surprise that Joe Cox and his management team built their tactics for last Sunday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Final around the belief that if Annaduff were to win, they had to outwork Melvin Gaels.

With the memory of a 2-15 to 0-8 defeat at the hands of the Kinlough men in the group stages fresh in the mind, Joe admitted that Annaduff adapted their approach for Sunday’s Final: “We kind of knew beforehand that the only way we could beat Melvin Gaels was to outwork them and we outworked them I think in the end, over the span of the game.

“I know it wasn’t fluid for us today but we couldn’t afford to be because the last time we played Melvin Gaels, we learned our lesson that they were just going to pick us off. We’ve been working on that the last three or four weeks with it in mind - that is the first time we were able to get that right. On the big day, it came off - last year it didn’t but today it did.”

Annaduff wildly celebrate long awaited Smith Monumentals IFC Final victory - GALLERY (UPDATED)

After heartbreak in three previous finals, Annaduff finally tasted glory in the Smith Monumentals IFC Final on Sunday in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada when they held off Melvin Gaels 0-9 to 0-7 to claim the 2023 title. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to catalogue the celebrations .... see who you can spot!

After so many heartbreaks in finals, Joe was just relieved to finally see Annaduff get across the line: “We’ve been knocking at this door and knocking at it for so long but there is just a bit of grit in these lads. We probably had better teams over recent years but we were just missing that little edge and to be fair, we had that edge. 

“We brought Padraig McGourty in this year, myself, Kevin and Sean, and that was the one thing we said, we need to try and get an edge and a way of playing. Over the span of the last three years, we’ve been continually trying to get them better and better.

“It wasn’t, I imagine, a great game to watch but guts and determination make up an awful lot and we were reared on that in Annaduff over the last 20, 30 years. 

“If we can put that into them and it is in them now, I’d be very happy with that. We have good footballers as well but to execute that today, I’m really proud. So relieved, there is no point in saying anything.”

Incredibly, for a game filled with tension, Joe didn’t feel it on the sideline believing that Annaduff’s players were in the right frame of mind: “I wasn’t stressed for the first time all year or even the last couple of years, Padraig wasn’t stressed either - the first five minutes, we knew that they knew what they were at.

“Once we did, we were going to continue with that and try to pick Melvin Gaels off because we always knew that if we got ahead of them, they’d have to come out. They’re great gasuns, their manner and the way they help each other is great. It was the one thing I told them that after today, they’d be a team because you knew from them, they were very relaxed all year.”

Last year’s experience losing to Aughnasheelin also helped on Sunday: “We came in last year the same as Melvin Gaels - we had to beat Aughnasheelin because we were supposedly better than them but the only way you are better than is to come and beat them. 

“Melvin Gaels had to come and beat us today. They had to step out and beat us but we just had to do our job and hope it gets us across the line and it did today. We've got really good footballers. 

“I’m so happy for Matty and Ray - Ray won an Intermediate championship in 2001 and he’s winning his second one today, 22 years later that’s incredible. The way they helped these young lads is a credit to them.”

Annaduff end Smith Monumentals IFC finals torment as Darren Cox shines in battle with Melvin Gaels

ANNADUFF 0-9 MELVIN GAELS 0-7

Joe paid tribute to all those who contributed to Annaduff’s success and remembered those who weren’t there to enjoy the occasion: “Football is what we love and some of those young lads who are out there, they are so class to work with. I’ve been so lucky to work with people over the last ten years within the county and club and they’re some of the finest people you will ever meet.

“Their families are good, fine, staunch GAA people -we had a tough, tough eight to ten years between different things, there is emotion there because there are a lot of people there who should be with us today and aren’t and that drained the life out of us for a few years. 

“I’m happy for their families, it means a lot to those people and there are two or three people directly involved and it is so good for them that we can put a smile on people’s faces, even if it is for only one day. It is just great for our club.”