Louth GAA club | Sullivan: We won't be too far away

Naomh Máirtín full-back Thomas Sullivan is confident as his side prepares for their seventh Louth Senior Football Championship final in eight years when they take on Newtown Blues on Sunday.

Sullivan has been a cornerstone of his team's defence, but the sense of occasion never gets old. Speaking ahead of the final, he said: “It's a privilege getting to the finals. It's great for everyone, it's great for the team.

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“There's a lot of good things happening in the club through juveniles and underage. So, as I said, it's a privilege getting into those positions, and it's where you want to be.

“You want to be training here at the end of October and lining out in Drogheda on Sunday. We've had a big overturn in the last two years. A lot of main figures retired, like JP (Rooney), Mick Fanning, Stephen Campbell, all these guys.

“You have a revolving door of young lads coming through like Cian Sands guys stepping up. It's all about what's coming through. It drives the standards in training, and it makes everyone better.”

For the Monasterboice side, regular appearances in the county final are no guarantee of success.

“These games are won and lost by the finest of margins. You can put yourselves in the best position, and it can be a kick of a ball. It can be a mistake.

“It can be anything that will either win or lose the game. So again, it's just how you prepare yourself as well as you can. And then look, as I said, it's the finest of margins and that'll be the exact same on Sunday.”

Hunger

Coming off back-to-back final defeats to Ardee St Mary’s, the question of motivation inevitably arises.

“I don't think it has been difficult. People say hunger and stuff like that, but you're getting to compete at the highest level.

“You're going to these finals. It's what you want. You want to be competing at this level. You want to get into the final. So, the hunger and appetite are always there.

“It's just the finest of margins, and as long as you can perform to your best ability and execute your game plan on the day, you're going to put yourself in a serious position to win the game.”

Big challenge

The road to this year’s decider included a tight clash with the Joes and a narrow victory over Sunday's opponents earlier in the campaign.

“We probably started off slow in the Championship. We've had tight games, but I feel like we've been improving every game. Our biggest challenge probably is going to be Sunday. The Blues are the team in form. They've weapons everywhere.

“It's going to be a brilliant game for the spectators, but again, it's going to be the biggest challenge yet on Sunday.”

Beating the Blues

The earlier encounter between the two sides saw the Jocks come out on top against the Newtown Blues. Does that give them any edge?

“I'm not sure, you can say that, but again, with the new rules, like a kick for a ball, a two-pointer can win you a game, which it did.

“When you're coming down the stretch, the fact you can nail those two-pointers, you can nail those goals, you're never really too far ahead or you're never really too far behind.”

New rules

The new rules have been a talking point all year. As a defender, Sullivan admits it required some getting used to, but he has embraced the change.

“I was thinking at the start of the year what it would be like as a defender, but it's a different way of looking at the game.

“It's a different way of defending. It's more like you're working out the forward coming up the field or half-back coming up the field, it's more tactical-wise, but no, it's fun.

“I don't get too far up front scoring anyway, but it's different and it's growing the game, which is the main thing.”

Defensive duty

Newtown Blues have been dangerous from the two-point zone this season, something Sullivan and his teammates are aware of.

“That's what hurt us in the first game was the two-pointers, but we just have to get ourselves right again and plan for the Blues.

“Get our game plan executed and then, as I said, it's going to be the smallest margins that will either win you or lose you the game.”

Balance

The balance of youth and experience has become an important part of Naomh Máirtín’s recent success.

“Exactly, some of the other guys stepped away, and the lads stepped up, and that's what it's all about.

“You have to be continuously having guys stepping up and through the juveniles here in the club, you're getting the standard of football coming through. It's pushing us all on.

“The standard of training is getting better, and there are different voices now who are in the changing room this year, it's only added to it even more. I feel like we're in a great position, and it's a young team. I'm the oldest on the team.”

Busy club

The club is bustling with activity, and Sullivan talks with pride at their growth.

“You come up here any day when we're not training, you go into the gym, you can barely get a car parking space. There's plenty of training throughout the whole time.

“Girls were training in the pitch before us. It's a really busy spot and, to be honest, it's a hub of the community. It's brilliant.”

In form

Sunday’s final is set to pit two attack-minded teams against each other.

“To be honest, the Blues are probably the team in form. They probably had the harder side of the draw. As I said, they have weapons everywhere.

“We're starting to really move it up a gear. We have another big step to go for the final. As I said, it's going to be a fantastic game for the spectators.

“That's all you can do. Execute our game plan, we'll focus on our performance, and we won't be too far away.”