Ardee manager insists “We're not going to Croke Park to make up the numbers”

Ardee St. Mary’s secured a dramatic one-point victory over St. Loman’s Mullingar to book their spot in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship final at Croke Park.

Manager Cathal Murray shared his thoughts on the memorable win for the Louth champions and praised his players for their determination and composure in a nail-biting encounter.

He said: “You get so wrapped up in a game that afterwards people say that it was a super game, but you don’t really see a lot on the line.

“You’re probably looking to nitpick and see the bad things as opposed to the good things. The good things are obviously immense in terms of our ability to recover from the scores that they got.

“The ability to recover from very poor decisions that really put us under pressure. We had to work so hard for frees from the first ball and cards given with nothing going the other way,” he added.

“You are just looking for consistency and that was far from it. We had a lot of things to beat today but coming out the other side of it is just immense.

“There are certain things that we as coaches and managers ask players to do, but there are certain things that you can’t coach.

“The steal that they showed by repeatedly coming back. It was score for score but the steal to come back and then for Seán (Callaghan) to put over the winner was super.”

Murray was full of praise for his players, particularly for how they handled the pressure late in the game.

He said: “They are super players. They are great lads, never mind footballers – they are great fellas and I am delighted for them to take the club to Croke Park. It’s amazing.

“We are not going there to make up the numbers. We are going there to climb the steps. It is a well-earned achievement, we have been making progress and today is another day's progress.

“We are just looking for more consistency, another performance like that, and hopefully that will be enough to get us over the line.”

The manager reflected on the lessons learned from previous campaigns when looking ahead to their final against south Dublin opponents Cuala at Croke Park on Saturday.

He said: “Two years ago we were in Cusack Park and the Downs turned us over and we weren’t ready then.

“Last year we were much better prepared, unlucky in the second half, and probably gave the (Kilmacud) Crokes too much respect.

“Those years in Leinster have stood by us and we controlled the game for long periods but we were composed enough to deal with what was given to us and get the scores and get us over the line.

“The final isn't just another venue, it is going to be played in Croke Park and I am delighted for the people of Ardee and Louth to be able to go there and support us.

“It will be a wonderful occasion, but it is a game of football behind it all, and we will work hard this week in the run-up to it and be raring to go.”

With a place in the final now secured Murray and his talented team are determined to top off their Leinster campaign with a special performance at Croke Park.