'We have nothing to lose' - Graham

The amazing feats of Mullinalaghta in the Leinster Club Championship have caught the imagination of the entire GAA world, and Mickey Graham’s charges now face a semi-final glamour tie against Dublin champs, St Vincent’s, tomorrow.

The enormity of the Longford club’s success after a wait of 66 years for county honours can be expressed in this one fact - there are just over 400 souls living in eleven townlands in Mullinalaghta and they now face the massive St Vincent’s club from Dublin with thousands at their disposal and further bolstered by county players from the West.
Manager Mickey Graham rightly described his players as “a breath of fresh air”
“It is great for the community and the parish and the players – it is an unreal achievement. Even the people from the parish have to pinch themselves – are we actually in this position?”
The Cavanman describes the prospect of facing footballing heavyweights, St Vincent’s - who have three All Ireland club titles to their name, the latest in 2014 - in the provincial semi-final on Sunday November 27 as real “Roy of the Rovers stuff”.
“St Vincent’s have Mayo and Sligo inter-county players together with the likes of Diarmuid Connolly and Mossy Quinn. We are under no illusion how big a step-up it is going to be the next day out. We have nothing to lose – they have everything to lose – if we go out and perform, you just never know what might happen on the day,” said Graham.
St Columba’s played brilliant football on Sunday in Pearse Park in Longford to outwit the Westmeath Champions, St Loman’s, having disposed of Stradbally in the previous round.
With each new scalp on this most unlikely of runs, the supporters are eager to tell Mickey, “'You are giving us great day’s out, regardless of what happens’ – They are on cloud nine at present”.
St Columba’s showed amazing commitment and talent, which should not be a surprise as five of the team will be on the Longford under 21 panel next season and there are a number on the senior panel, including Donal McElligott and James McGivney and John Keegan.
“The players know the pace of the game and the intensity they have to reach,” explained Mickey Graham. “When players are prepared to make sacrifices and give the commitment and buy into what you want them to do – it makes life a lot easier and in fairness to the lads, that is what they have done. I could not praise them highly enough for the effort they have given all year.
“The whole community is behind this effort from the ladies making tea and sandwiches after every training session to people on the committee helping out with equipment. Everyone gets behind the team, I have never seen anything like it, it is remarkable.”