Finbarr’s determined to make breakthrough count

After three years, St Finbarr’s have finally made their championship breakthrough and manager Ronan Crowe says they are determined to make the opportunity count when they face Cornafean in the Intermediate Championship final.

Successive quarter-final exits had become a painful theme for St Finbarr’s, but Crowe believes the determination of the players to stick together has finally been rewarded.

“We’ve been on this path now for three years, getting knocked out in quarter-finals, and it was very upsetting for the club,” he said. “The girls have stuck together and have really put in a big effort this year. We have great team bonding going on at the minute and we’re willing to go the whole way.”

For captain Kate McIntyre, finally overcoming that quarter-final hurdle against Kingscourt was the moment belief really began to grow. “That win over Kingscourt was a big boost for us,” McIntyre said. “The last few years we’ve lost out at the quarter-final stage, so it was a nerve-wracking game going into it. Once we got that win, it definitely boosted our confidence and we knew from there that we could push on and go all the way.”

It has been a hectic championship run, with a postponement followed by a refixture and then a drawn game adding to a demanding schedule. Crowe, however, feels the quick turnaround into the final could actually benefit his players.

“We haven’t had time to think about it. We’re ready to jump straight at it, game after game,” he said.

Another important part of St Finbarr’s development has been their exposure to Division 1 football. Having earned promotion, retaining their top-flight status provided another significant confidence boost ahead of the championship.

“Playing senior football is where everybody strives to be,” Crowe explained. “It was a very tough year starting off, but to stay in Division 1 was massive for us going into the championship.”

That higher standard has also helped bring together an emerging generation of young talent and the more experienced members of the squad.

Now their attention turns to Cornafean, and Crowe is expecting a formidable challenge from a team whose pace he has seen at close quarters.

“They are fast and they like to travel the ball. The ball moves at pace, they’re strong and they have some very confident players,” he said.

But having spent three years trying to force their way beyond the quarter-finals, St Finbarr’s are not content simply to have reached the decider.