Treanor hails Truagh character after semi win

By Niall Keenan

Truagh have taken another significant step in their bid for provincial honours after overcoming Cavan champions Cornafean to book their place in the Ulster Intermediate Club Championship final, with manager Anthony Treanor praising the determination shown by his side to negotiate a difficult semi-final challenge.

The Monaghan champions secured their place in Sunday's decider against Donegal representatives Naomh Columba with a 2-8 to 2-6 victory at St Mellan’s Park, although they were made to work hard for their passage after a late rally from the visitors.

"You know, it's amazing I have to say. It's great, you put a huge amount of work and effort in all the way through the year since January when the girls got together," Treanor said.

"Obviously you take it step by step, all those clichés come into play, step-by-step and competition by competition. We got through that Monaghan piece and, as we said last week, the fact there was a lot of emotion around that.

"We treated Ulster as a brand-new competition which obviously it is, a new competition, and when you get into that competition of course you want to get as far as you can."

The Truagh manager was particularly pleased with how his players responded to a late Cornafean revival, with the Cavan champions enjoying their strongest spell after goalkeeper Kellie Johnston was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Rather than being hindered by their numerical disadvantage, Treanor felt the setback galvanised Cornafean, who took advantage of the momentum shift to threaten what had looked a comfortable Truagh lead.

"Sometimes you see that in games where teams go down a player, but it galvanises them and they rally. Cornafean probably hadn't had their purple patch in the game until that period, and it coincided with them losing their goalkeeper to a yellow card.

"I think the two things came together where they went down to 14 players, they get that bit of resilience and that galvanises them and they also got their significant purple patch for the game."

Treanor acknowledged that his own side may have retreated slightly as they looked to protect their advantage but was proud of the determination shown to withstand the late pressure.

"It sort of maybe brought them onto us a little bit more than we would have liked. It was squeaky bum-time a little as they would say in the final stages but look, the girls showed real heart and determination to hold on.

"Every ball was being contested by both teams with their lives. Both teams really wanted to get to that Ulster final."

Attention will now turn to Naomh Columba, with Treanor expecting another demanding examination when the sides meet in Killyclogher on Sunday.

"There is a lot of mobility in the squad, they've a couple of county players as well that we know about, so it brings a different challenge.

"Every game brings a different challenge and Naomh Columba are going to bring a different challenge again. We'll find out as much about them just as they will no doubt look to find out about us and hopefully, we look after what we need to look after and bring home a result on Sunday."

Treanor believes the team's progress can help leave a lasting legacy for ladies' football within the club. "We have an unbelievable conveyor belt of talent coming through the club. We've everything from under-six all the way through to the senior panel. The club is in a good position from that perspective, and this can only help that, and it can only generate that additional support for ladies' football within the club." The Truagh manager hopes the team's provincial adventure can inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

"We've a great set-up down there, great coaches that are trying to improve the ladies' game in particular and I suppose we want to leave our legacy and help build for that future."

The intermediate final will form part of a ladies' football double-header, with Donaghmoyne and St Ergnat's, Moneyglass meeting in the senior decider.

Treanor welcomed the opportunity for the two finals to be staged together, believing it provides an important platform for the women's game.

"That's a great showcase for ladies' football. We experienced that in Monaghan with the finals playing before Donaghmoyne and Magheracloone and it just builds and it gives the ladies' game the platform that it deserves in my view. It's a great initiative from the Monaghan LGFA board and the Ulster LGFA. I think it's brilliant."