​It’s County Final day - if your leg is hanging off you, you’ve got to go for it - Tom Prior

​Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins were determined to make the most of their second chance in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final replay and Tom Prior equally determined to get onto the field for last Sunday’s replay as he battled through injury to make a man of the match contribution against Fenagh St Caillins.

​Speaking after Ballinamore’s 3-14 to 0-15 victory, Tom said his team were determined to make the most of their second chance: “We were dead and buried after 62 minutes the last day. To be honest, I thought it was done so to get that chance again, it just meant we were even more hungry and we weren't going to leave it behind us today.”

Confirming that he had suffered an injury in the drawn game, Tom stressed he was going to take the field last Sunday no matter what! “The first ten days I was kind of worried about what level I'd be able to play at but the last few days, I was a bit happier that I'd definitely be able to move a bit more freer than I was two weeks ago. So that was a relief coming into today but look it’s County Final, if your leg is hanging off you, you’ve got to go for it. I felt like I wasn't moving freely the last day so I just said today let's just go for however long you can keep it up for and, you know, you can't really control these things.”

As for his goal last Sunday, Tom reveals instinct took over: “The ball just came firing at me, I was planning on catching it and trying to go round the keeper but the ball just bounced in front of me so I just flicked it without trying to waste any more time. I suppose it's just instinct when you're that close to goal.”

Tom’s instinct also was to downplay his Man of the Match award, highlighting the contribution of other players: “It's not about that, even though I'm sure you're sick of hearing boys saying that. I read Darren Cox’s interview last week, he was harsh on himself but I think there's 15 other lads you could have given it to today. Paul Honeyman led us from start to finish and, for a lad that's 20 years of age, he's a massive, massive leader.

“Shane & Niall dominated the middle for long periods, Cathal McHugh did a massive job on Ryan O'Rourke again – we had a lad, 19 years of age, playing in goals that's never played in goals in his life so look that takes courage, that takes heart. When you see a lad willing to do that for the team, sure it's easy to be doing the rest so glad to get it but you could give it to anyone.”

Were Ballinamore under any extra pressure after losing the last two finals? “It's a relief now that we've got over the line but we didn't see it as that. There's been years, well before I started playing, that getting to a final would be a dream so you can't take that for granted either. We were happy that at least we're getting there, we were getting competitive but, 100%, it was important to get back over the line again.

“We won it in 21 and you probably think ‘all right we'll be able to do this again’ but it's never that simple. It is so competitive now in Leitrim that anyone can beat each other on the day so they're special days and we'll enjoy it for as long as we can now. We'll enjoy the next 48 or 72 hours or whatever we're allowed to enjoy but these days don't come around too often.”

The experience of facing a replay in 2024 also helped Ballinamore get across the line: “I suppose we've been there and done it before. We have that experience of having the replay two years ago which helped us. Having the two weeks helped too, just you know the first week you can get over the first day and then we could really prepare for the second day.

“First day out felt quite similar to today in that after 45 minutes we thought we were completely in control of the game and then Darren got injured and we went off plan instead of just doubling down on our plan. We said if that happens again, we just stick to our basics, stick to our plan the whole way. That's what we've did and that's why we ended up running out seven point winners instead of scoring a goal to try and equalise it at the end.”

While the celebrations will be enjoyed, Tom is also looking ahead to a Connacht Club clash with Salthill Knocknacarra on Sunday week: “It means a lot to be able to represent this club and Leitrim in Connacht so we're going to prepare for that as if it's another knockout game, no doubt about it.”