Ardee manager says "We're our own team"

As Ardee St. Mary’s prepare to take on Cuala in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship final the sense of excitement within the team is palpable.

For manager Cathal Murray and his team Saturday is more than just a game for the Louth champions; it’s a chance to make their mark on the Leinster championship.

Murray emphasised that St. Mary’s are not looking to follow in the footsteps or compare themselves to past Louth teams in the competition.

He said: “I've never looked at anybody apart from us. I mean, it's not a case of whatever team qualified out of Louth, we’re our own team.

“We're not comparing ourselves to previous Louth teams or any teams in Leinster. We are there on our own merits and we are there to forge our own path and I wouldn't be comparing us to anybody else.

“We’ve always known that the further you go the more difficult the games will become and the further you go, there's more at stake with that.”

The task ahead is a tough one as Cuala delivered a controlled performance in their semi-final against Tullamore and presented a physically imposing challenge.

Murray said: “Having watched Cuala (in the Leinster semi-final) they were really impressive, and they have serious size about them and the way they play it.

“For us, the first thing will be about getting the match-ups right. The matchups will be key, and it'll take a couple of sessions.

“We all (the management) have our own ideas, and we'll eventually agree among the management team what the best scenario is but getting that part of it right is the first step.

“Obviously you need to look at their strengths, the way in which they play and the certain facets of their game they are good at and what we need to do to counteract that.”

Playing at Croke Park could bring its own set of challenges but Murray is determined to keep his team focused. He said: “Croke Park can’t be a factor. I said it after the semi-final, the grass is still green, and the posts are at either end of the pitch.

“It's, a pitch…it's obviously a stadium and we’ll be going into the dressing rooms, the bus under the stand…all that sort of stuff…but that's peripheral because you’ve got to remember there's a game of football to be played and won.

“Obviously there is the Dublin aspect, I'm sure some of them, a lot of them will have played, more so in Croke Park whether it be senior, U20s, minors, whatever it may be, but it is new to so many of our boys but you have to remember, Louth has had some wonderful performances in Croke Park over the last couple of years and our players, they have been key to that.

“It is about getting the balance between enjoying the build-up and the occasion but playing the game on its own merits, we can't detract (from that). Everybody wants to talk to them (the players) about it this week and the worst thing is it could drain them if they let it get to them.

“This week we're not going to get much done. We're training tonight (Monday) and Wednesday so it's hard to know what exactly we're going to get done. It’ll just be managing this week and making sure we get through to next Saturday.”

Ardee St. Mary’s journey to this stage hasn’t been without setbacks, but those experiences have shaped the team into the force it is today. Reflecting on a tough loss to The Downs (Westmeath) in 2021.

Murray recalled: “We played The Downs in Cusack Park two years ago, and we probably had a number of injuries.

“Maybe we were happy with winning our first Louth title at that stage, and we weren't properly prepared for the game. 

“It just took us by surprise; the intensity of the game and even the size and power that The Downs had compared to us.

“That was a ‘we need to do something different’ moment. So last year, the run we had and getting Kilmacud (in the Leinster semi-final at home) we were obviously much better prepared, more of a better-balanced team, but we had prepared for that.

“As much as Louth was always going to be a challenge as it was this year, we were kind of thinking, ‘let's get out of Louth and let's see what we can do in Leinster.’

“We had played Kilmacud previously in a challenge game and we knew we had the beating of them and there was a strong breeze, and we went against the breeze (in the first half).

“They went 10 up but there were no big alarm bells in the dressing room, but we knew we had to go for it. We came out at the start of the second half, brought it back, got a goal, we got a few points, and we really pressed them hard, and they were kind of scrambling under pressure.

“There were two in it midway through the second half, and we had four chances to go two up, which might have changed the complexion of the game.

“And they weren't difficult chances, but you could see (the players) being deflated - maybe a wide, a block down, a missed free…it's just the confidence was draining from the team as the game went on and Kilmacud finished five points ahead of us.

“Again, we wanted to get back there. Not disrespecting Louth but obviously, the only way to get back to Leinster again was to win Louth again.

“We've had changes to the team this year. (Goalkeeper) Tiernan Markey has come in. Tiernan has made the number one jersey his own. He came in and took his chance and hasn't looked back since

“And we're getting more out of the county players. I appreciate there's maybe not a split season for them, but we gave them a break. A couple of them went to America, came back and they’d recharged their batteries.

“They had that bit of time away from the intensity of the club scene, enjoyed their summer, and came back fresh for the championship campaign. 

“RJ Callan came back this year and has had a massive influence in the middle, Karl Faulkner we didn't have last year.

“So, there's been a big change in personnel and obviously those guys are leaders that Karl and RJ…RJ was the captain in 2022, and Karl had been captain in 2021.

“So, you're bringing big personalities into the team and they're very good in the dressing room and they talk very well, they are leaders, in that respect. So that has made a big difference this year.”

As St. Mary’s put final preparation in place for the final, Murray praised his player's attitude that has defined their campaign so far.

He said: “In the first half (of the semi-final) we probably put ourselves under pressure a wee bit, we were turned over a few times quite easily but again, dealing with the intensity at that level, that standard of football, it's county standard in all but name.

“There's such a pace to the game and if you're not on your game, you're found out very easily. So, it was our ability to adapt on the pitch, to control things when we needed it, and put our stamp on the game,

“And the fact that we sort of went toe-to-toe, they got to score, we got to score, they went up, then they pegged us back. It was just that ability to keep coming back for more and just a never-say-die attitude.”