'Hard work has been the key to Ulster run' - O'Reilly

GAA news

Fionntán O'Reilly is hoping to make it a six months to remember in his football career as he takes to the field this Friday for the Ulster U20 final.

On October 31 last, O'Reilly - joint vice-captain of the Cavan U20s along with Gowna's Tiarnan Madden - picked up the Man of the Match award as his club Butlersbridge won the Intermediate Championship for the first time and now, he and his U20 colleagues hope to add another medal to the collection.

"Growing up these are the games you want to play in and we're grateful to be in it. We'll just prepare mentally now for 60 minutes of hard work against Tyrone, enjoy the occasion and the build-up but we have to keep 100pc focused on the game at all times," O'Reilly told the Anglo-Celt.

"It's something most of the boys are used to, going into games as underdogs. There are other boys in the squad, the Gowna boys, who have played in Senior Championship finals. Boys are used to big occasions, they have played in Ulster schools finals, semi-finals, whatever. These are the days you want to play on and I think most of the boys would agree."

Cavan have worked hard in recent months. O'Reilly was called into the senior county panel in the early part of the year so it's been a hectic but thoroughly enjoyable period for him.

"It's been so enjoyable the last few months. Playing with lads we've been playing with since development squads, we're all best friends and enjoying going to training. It's all skill work, the running and all that was done at the start of the year. We have that confidence behind us now that we are fit enough and have to keep nailing the skills down and hopefully we can get across the line on Friday.

"I got no break at all to be honest but any time you get asked in to train or play a McKenna Cup match with the Cavan seniors, there's only one answer to that, you couldn't say no. The experience I got in there was unreal, from the management and the players, I learned so much in the two months I was in there and then I brought that confidence back in to the U20s and I'm just trying to perform and get better in every training session."

While this Cavan group had no major track record of success before, they believed they had enough quality to make an impact in Ulster, he insisted.

"Definitely confident. I know we lost against Monaghan and had a complete blip against Westmeath but we put in a big performance against Armagh and that was kind of the foundation for the last few weeks. We have a wee streak going there now including challenge matches and we brought that into championship. We got confidence, we had boys coming back from injury and training sessions got very competitive with boys pushing each other on.

"Even going into this final now on Friday, the 24-man squad won't be picked until the training before it and the 15 is not picked either. We have boys coming back from injury, boys performing well in training and to be in these finals, that's what you need to be in these finals.

"We have training games which are more competitive than any challenge matches we've had this year. It's a regular occurrence that the so-called 'B' 15 would beat the 'A' team in training so that's the competitive environment we're in so it's great."

Asked what has been the key to the wins over Monaghan and Derry, he said there is no secret.

"Just hard work, one to 15 and then the subs coming on. Hard work has been the foundation for this team, it's just key in the modern game. Forwards are expected to work back, get tackles on, turnovers. That's what we have in the team, forwards are willing to work and then you look at the backs, you have corner-backs like Cormac Brady and Eoghan Hartin coming up the pitch and kicking ‘worldies’.

"It's just a team game and we all trust in each other as well. I know the boys, 30 odd players we have on the squad and every one of them are very good footballers. We probably didn't deserve any respect going into the Ulster U20, we haven't proven ourselves at all at U17 level so weren't respected and we didn't expect to be.

"We have gained a little bit of respect now but if we don't perform on Friday, it will be the same again."

Tyrone are formidable opponents but Cavan are looking forward to the challenge.

"They're obviously a quality side. They are littered with quality players and they have some serious forwards, the likes of Ruairi Canavan, Conor Cush and then you have Michael McGleenan round the middle. They are full of footballers. I haven't really got to see them that much, obviously Jim Kiernan and Damien have done analysis on them and will be sharing that with us.

"No matter who you play in Ulster, it's going to be a battle. We just have to give 100pc on the day, if you give 90pc it won't be enough."