Louth GAA club | Carolan “buzzing” for final

Oliver Plunketts prepare for their first Louth Junior Football Championship in over a decade, captain Dean Carolan admits the excitement around the club is building.

Their last title came 11 years ago when they defeated Glen Emmetts to lift the Christy Bellew Cup in Stabannon. It was a night that still lives long in the memory, though Carolan acknowledges that getting back has not been straightforward.

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He said: “Yeah, I kind of keep saying that to the lads. These don't come around too often, you know. Finals are few and far between now, given how competitive the whole, all the divisions in Louth are.

“Like from intermediate, senior, intermediate, junior. It's just so hard to get to finals, leagues, championships, so I just said enjoy it, enjoy it as best we can.”

Dark times

The years since 2014 have not always been kind to the Mell side. Relegations and lean spells tested the resolve of players, yet the captain never lost sight of what the club could achieve.

“It has been really difficult. There's been a lot of dark times for the club. As I said, enjoy the good times when we have them. There seems to be a lot of good young lads coming through.

“You know, it's kind of phases when you get the guys through and there's a lot we have a good few now at the minute, which is great, but yeah, some dark times, too many!”

This year brought its own challenge in Division Two, where survival was the first priority.

“Yeah, that was definitely target one, to stay up. It kind of took us a little bit longer than we would have liked to have, but yeah, it did give us a bit of momentum playing at that level.

“There's a couple of good sides and some of the teams we beat are still going to the championship, you know, so our firm stands up well there, so yeah, it definitely stood to us.”

Fully fit

One of the keys to Plunketts progress has been continuity, and a rare clean bill of health.

“Actually, the first time in a long time we've had a good core of lads there. Probably down to Adam Brodigan, who's doing the strength and conditioning with us, has us in great nick.

“There hasn't been a whole pile of injuries, thank God, and hopefully we'll get that way down to the final.”

With experienced players like Carolan, Stephen Keely, David McTeggart, and David Lambe still involved, the baton is being firmly passed to the next generation.

“Yeah, absolutely, yeah, so I don't know who we left that's still playing, myself, Stephen Keely, David McTeggart, and David Lambe, just all clinging on in there, probably forgetting one or two now.

“Emmett Kelleher as well, the manager, he was part of the team too, he was part of the squad as well, and then we have a lot of youth, the rest of it's all young lads, which is great, some real, real good quality there amongst the young lads.

“The effort and the commitment they put in, they're the ones driving the thing now, it's not up to us anymore, it's all the young lads, the training they do is serious, so it's great to see.”

Character

The group stage provided tough games, and a dramatic semi-final against O’Connells proved the Plunketts strong character.

“I was relatively confident, but two good sides, you know, and then coming up against the O'Connells again in the semi-final, which was fairly interesting, which was a really, really hard game, but yeah, relatively confident I suppose.”

“Their tails were up, and they were eyeing for us. We just kind of knuckled down; it was lucky, a one-point win is always going to be lucky, either way.

“They're great lads, the O'Connells, they're hard beat. I said that to Bob Doheny on the interview down there that evening, they're great lads and I'm sure they'll get to a final maybe next year or the year after, they’re a good side.”

Glyde challenge

Now, the focus is on Sunday and opponents Glyde Rangers, who were junior champions just two years ago.

“Glyde are a really good side, they know how to win it, like they're after winning it, they had a run in Leinster and stuff like that as well.

“They hit the post in a couple of finals beforehand, but yeah, Glyde are going to be a really, really tough opposition.

“We've had some difficult, some hard battles; they beat us up here in a league game last year, and it put us under serious pressure. Glyde are a good side.

“I'll try and keep things as normal as possible. I'll have a chat with the lads, obviously, before the game, but I'll try to do the talking on the field.

“But we'll have a little chat, alright, amongst ourselves, the lads know at this stage, they don't need me to be putting it in their head anymore.”

Pride

Above all, the sense of pride in the jersey remains clear for the Plunketts skipper.

“I can still remember the craic from the last time. The whole town was lit, but yeah, it would be brilliant for the area.”

And just as in 2014, Emmett Kelleher has a central role to play, though this time on the line rather than on the field.

“He glued us all together, pulled us all together. He's been excellent. I'm delighted that we got him to a final, it's been absolutely brilliant, I'm delighted for him.”

With throw-in approaching, the anticipation in Mell is building, and for the captain, it’s simple: “I can't wait, I can't wait, I'm buzzing now, I can't wait to get going.”