Kevin oacuteg carneyhaving lost out in the 2013 and 2014 jfc semifinals cornafeanrsquos success in making it to

KEVIN ÓG CARNEY

Having lost out in the 2013 and 2014 JFC semi-finals, Cornafean’s success in making it to this year’s decider has upholstered hopes in the Reds’ camp that 2015 could be their year.

Indeed, the team’s summary dismissal (2-18 to 1-4) of 2013 JFC winners Kill Shamrocks did nothing to dampen down expectations within Cornafean’s ranks that this Sunday could witness the annexation of a first adult championship title by the club since 2000 when they scooped the top prize in junior football.
However, Cornafean’s selector Sean Kilkenny says that the team’s resounding victory last time out will not have any bearing on what happens this weekend: “What has happened up to now won’t have any bearing on what way things go on Sunday,” Kilkenny opines.
“We’re talking about a whole new game and new opposition this Sunday and anything can happen in a final. I think it could all boil down to whichever team can handle the big occasion.”
Kilkenny will be along the sideline this Sunday and will be joined by fellow selector Neil Tully and team-manager Laurence Brady, the former Gowna and county star.
Kilkenny believes that the experience the aforementioned Brady will bring to the table this weekend will be invaluable in helping to settle nerves in the Cornafean dressing-room.
“Laurence has played in a lot of county finals and knows how important it is to play to your potential on the big day. He knows what it takes to get over the line in a final.
“Over the past year, he (Laurence) has made it clear to all the fellas just how important a good work ethic is; if they don’t put it into training they won’t get a game. Thankfully, all the players have responded very positively all year.”
According to Kilkenny, the Reds’ facile victory over Kill in the penultimate round has presented its own challenges to the club’s think-tank and the players also.
“It was good to get a run out at Breffni ‘cause we hadn’t been there since last year when we beat Shercock in the league final and hopefully the experience of playing the semi-final game with Kill there will stand to our younger players in particular.
“As a management team though, we have had to work hard to make sure that the players keep their feet on the ground after the Kill game. It was a pity too that we weren’t able to see our players come under a bit of pressure this year in a game at Breffni but I suppose the result in the semi-final was more important and being able to shoot eight unanswered points showed up the potential in the team.”
The long-time Cornafean mentor unequivocally fingers the Kill display as his team’s best of 2015 to date but he reckons that much more of the same will be needed in a few days time to topple Templeport.
It takes two to tangle, of course, and Kilkenny is a fully paid-up member of the Templeport Appreciation Society having watched them at first hand on several occasions this year already.
“They have pace all around the field, especially in attack, and they have some big, mobile players around the centre so they’ve a lot going for themselves. They’ve been posting a lot of big scores this year and have brought through a number of young players such as Liam Galligan, Ben Kiernan and Eoin Doonan from underage teams that won a few county titles so they’re proven winners.
“I know it’s a long time since Templeport have been in a championship final so fellas like Martin Ball, Lasse Morgenroth and Ciaran McManus will not want to let this opportunity pass them by.
“Hunger will be a big thing on Sunday, as well as who can keep their heads.
“I think the two best teams have reached the final and I can’t see anything more than a kick of a ball separating us.
“There’ll definitely be nobody leaving early. There was only a couple of points between us when we beat them in the championship (first round) in Killeshandra and I’d say there’ll only be a kick of a ball between us on Sunday, regardless who wins.
“I just hope our lads can maybe get the bit of luck that could make all the difference.”