McCabe hails Lacken’s heart and hunger
By Damien Donohoe
Lacken manager Aidan McCabe was bursting with pride after watching his side produce a remarkable comeback to defeat Ballyhegan Davitts 1-14 to 0-12 and book their place in the Ulster Junior Club Championship semi-finals.
Reduced to 14 men and trailing by five points in the second half, the Cavan champs appeared to be heading for the exit before producing a stunning turnaround.
“Definitely relief and pride. We were up against it there. We were almost dead and buried, but we showed great character, great hunger,” McCabe reflected.
“There was nothing technical or tactical or anything like that. It was the things that you can't put into a team. It's either in lads or it's not, and it's in our boys in bucketloads.
“We had a very, very tight league where there were a lot of games that were nip and tuck, and that probably stood to us in the end. Just delighted and fierce proud of the boys.”
McCabe felt Lacken's wastefulness in the opening half allowed Ballyhegan to gain a foothold.
“You can be in control, but you have to be in control of the scoreboard. You have to make good play pay, and we were four out of 13 in the first half. We were 6-4 up and missed at least three in that next phase of play. All of a sudden, from a chance to go maybe 7-4 or 8-4 up, we were 7-6 down.”
The dismissal of a Lacken player early in the second half compounded their difficulties, but McCabe singled out keeper Raymond Galligan, whose crucial saves kept his side alive.
“He's a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant goalkeeper. That helps too. Those saves really helped because another goal would have been another nail in the coffin.”
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Lacken turned the contest around, with their dominance of Ballyhegan's kick-outs proving decisive.
“We just outworked them and made the extra player null and void. I'd love to say there was some nice wee slick thing we tried, but it was heart and hunger and absolutely taking our chances when they presented themselves.
“We were very clever. There wouldn't have been much good in winning the kick-outs if we just launched the ball in and it came back out twice as quickly.”
McCabe was equally delighted with the contribution of his substitutes, including Paul Leddy and Mark Wilson, who delivered vital scores.
“We've probably half a dozen boys who would start on every team we've played this year, and they're not starting for one reason or another. You have to use them, you have to trust them, and they've repaid that.”
Attention now turns to tomorrow's semi against Tyrone champions Fintona Pearses.
“What would you rather be doing next Saturday? It's a pity not to be able to enjoy this a little bit more, but as marquee a win as that is, you have to press pause on it fairly quickly. I'm sure they're locked and loaded and they'll be licking their lips at 40 minutes of what we produced, but maybe we put a wee marker down in our play in the last 20.”