Louth GAA club | Healy: It's not luck we're there

For Naomh Máirtín's Conor Healy, the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship final on Sunday marks yet another chapter in a remarkable run of consistency.

Speaking ahead of the final, he said, “It's a pleasure to get to play in one final. Never mind, I think this is number maybe seven now at this stage. All that matters at the end of the day is how many medals you have in your pocket.

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“Nobody really remembers the loser of a final. I know we've been in a few tight contests, so it'll be nice to get over the line, hopefully, now come Sunday.”

Seven Joe Ward Cup finals in eight years is no accident, and Healy is quick to credit his teammates.

“We have a great group of players. That's the only reason we're getting back to these finals. It's not pure luck we're there.

“We have the talent in the squad, but it's a case of getting it done on the day this year and maybe going a step further than we have in the last couple of years.

“I know we have the two from 2020 and 2021, but at the minute, to us, they mean nothing now. It's all about going and getting the next one.”

Lessons

The past two finals didn’t go their way, but Healy remains positive ahead of the showdown this season.

“Maybe a good omen. Lose two before you win one. Hopefully that's the case for Sunday. I think we have to learn from the lessons of the last two years. I know, probably the first year, what was it, 2023, it was a close one against Ardee.

“We had a big change in turnover and squad that year, a different team coming up, a lot of new young lads blooded, so we were unlucky to lose that by a point.

“Then obviously last year the weather played a little bit of havoc, but still we have to take whatever lessons we can from that and try and apply them now during the final.”

Unbeaten

Consistency has been the hallmark of this Jocks team, and their current unbeaten run proves that.

“We've definitely probably developed as we've gone, I think. We got a tough group; we knew that going in, we probably got a little bit of a group of death, considering how good the Joes were in the league.

“And how strong we know the Blues are, so it was a good test to get in there first, like definitely against the Joes on that Monday night in Stabannon, to get a really good test on the first day out.

“Then, against the Blues was an even tougher test the following weekend. Thankfully enough, we managed to come out on the right side of that.

“And then we knew what the Gaels would bring. They've got some talented forwards. Thankfully, we were able to kind of manage their forwards as best as we could and put our own scores on the board in that game.”

“I think we analysed the Gaels we tried to analyse them and see what their strengths and weaknesses were, and see if we could play to our strengths, against what they were going to offer.

“And I think  we managed the game really, really well, we got our scores on the board and got a good win in the end to get to a final.”

Future

The future looks bright for the Monasterboice side with young stars like Darragh Dorian and Dara McDonnell making their mark.

“I think everyone in the county knows how good a player the two Darragh’s are. You see Dara (McDonnell) with the county team this year, Darragh Dorian has a Leinster medal. They're not won easily, so the quality is there.

“You want to put the ball in their hands and let them be exciting and dynamic as they are, and hopefully carry us forward and add to what we already have in the team.”

Family

For Healy, it's a family occasion as his younger brother Seán plays alongside him.

“Seán's riding my coattails now, haha. In fairness, Seán's a fantastic player, and look, it's a privilege again to play in one final.

“But even to play one with your brother and have won one with your brother is fantastic as well, so hopefully we'll have another one now in the family come Sunday.”

Nerves

You’d imagine seven finals might make the week easier to handle, but Healy insists the butterflies never leave.

“I don't think it ever really feels normal. Do you know what I mean? It's a privilege, and there's the excitement around the parish and around the club now.

“I suppose I would definitely be nervous, I think it's trying to shun that out a little bit and just try and focus on the task at hand, really and focus on what my job is and the team's job is on the day.”

The final

“I know sometimes finals can be cagey and can be a little bit tit-for-tat, but hopefully now it'll be a good exhibition of football.

“You've seen this year the scoring has been up a little bit, hopefully we'll see that come to the fore, and hopefully we'll come out on the right side of it. We have those players too.”

New rules

Healy admits the new GAA rules have made life both harder and more enjoyable.

“You can see it's clear as day. It makes the game more exciting to watch and even to play, it makes it more exciting.

“There were times, maybe with the old rules here, you were kind of standing in there, and the ball was never going to really come near you because there were that many bodies in front of you.

“It works both ways. It's a tougher task, but at the same time, that's why you play the game for the challenge.”

The Blues

Healy knows all about the Newtown Blues and what their attacking players are capable of.

“We know that they've six fantastic forwards and even some to come off the bench as well. We definitely found that the first day we played them, we were probably a little bit too off.

“It's something we're definitely going to have to be locked on to and be really, really up to the task and know what they're going to bring.

“We're familiar with a lot of them, obviously, they're close to us, we know a lot of them personally, so it'll be a tough challenge but one we're looking forward to.”

Resilience

One of the Máirtíns main traits is resilience, which they showed in the last outing against the Blues.

“I think it's just trying to stick to the game plan a bit, not to panic. Do you know what I mean? We said we have the shooters there. Wayne Campbell kicked a hell of a two-pointer to win it.

“So it's probably being a little bit patient as well and waiting for them to come. And luckily, we were on the right side of the result at the end that day.”