“It would be massive for the community” – McArdle on St Brides reaching Louth GAA IFC final
Kieran McArdle hopes to help St Brides bring the Intermediate Football Championship title back to Knockbridge when they face Stabannon Parnells in the county final at The Grove in Castlebellingham on Sunday
St Brides forward, Kieran McArdle, has enjoyed some brilliant occasions in a Louth jersey, but the thought of winning a county championship alongside his childhood friends would mean something special.
The Knockbridge side face Stabannon Parnells in the Louth GAA CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship final at The Grove, Castlebellingham on Sunday, with the hope to reclaim the Seamus Flood Cup for the first time since 2020.
He told the Dundalk Democrat, “I think I was only back; I was with Dundalk before that, but actually Seán (Marry) and some of the senior boys were over.
“I came back in towards the end of that season, and I think we lost eventually to the Plunketts in Darver, but the atmosphere around the place was class when the boys won it, and you can really feel that again in the community now at the minute, so it's a great buzz around in the place.”
McArdle believes the experience of older teammates could prove important on Sunday.
“You have a lot of experienced lads there like Michael Keane, you can name seven or eight lads, they all have different bits and pieces of advice and all the younger lads.
“There's a lot of younger lads coming in like Senan (Hoey) and Ruairi (Carpenter), even just this year it helps a lot for all the underage lads, even whatever the advice is, small, big, on the day, it definitely will help along the way"
Friendship
Despite his county commitments, McArdle was eager to return to club football following Louth's championship campaign.
“I suppose it's where you grew up playing with your club, with your friends from school, and you definitely wouldn't change that and while being with the county set up is unbelievable.
“Eamonn (O’Neill) was nearly encouraging me to take a bit of a break coming back in, but just the excitement and the lead-up to the championship, you really want to get back straight away into it and just be with your friends around the community, I suppose.”
For the forward, the opportunity to share a championship victory with lifelong friends is a powerful motivation.
“To win a championship with the boys I was in primary school with and then some of the older boys, it would be massive for the community, and there's a good bond there between all ages in the camp, and I'd say in the last month or so it's definitely brought us even closer together.”
Belief
St Brides made an immediate statement by defeating Geraldines in their opening group game before following up with victory over the Clans. McArdle insists the confidence was already there long before the championship began.
“Eamonn had the boys well drilled, and everyone was rolling in one direction, and when you have that, when the work is done, as Eamonn always says you have belief in yourself and the team, and it's something that we took into the group stage.
“I suppose the Geraldines were one of the favourites coming in and we kind of went into the game as underdogs, but there was quite a confidence between the group that we were fit to take on any one in intermediate and proved the case that night.”
Depth
The Brides squad strength proved particularly important during their semi-final victory over Geraldines, with Paddy Reilly unavailable.
“Paddy Reilly is a huge loss, himself and ‘Cosi’ (James Costello) have been absolutely huge for us in the middle of the field this year for kickouts
“It's something that we talked about during the game and before the game and just the depth and the strength in the panel, Neil Thornton knew his role and came straight in and knew his role, knew the kickouts and put in a great showing.”
Challenge
Stabannon's impressive semi-final victory over Mattock Rangers has ensured the Brides are taking nothing for granted.
“We'll have to do our homework for sure; they're in the back-to-back championship finals for a good reason, and we're under no illusion of the challenge they're going to bring on Sunday.”
“I think any final, no matter who was in it, who we were going to come up against, we're fully aware that it's going to be an absolute battle before any football is really played and we look forward to it.”
Ambition
Having already experienced Leinster success with Louth and an All-Ireland semi-final appearance, McArdle would relish adding a club championship medal to his collection.
“It would be amazing, I suppose I've been very lucky coming in with Louth the first year, being involved in the Leinster success, but then again, we backed it up this year, and of course then success with the club obviously would be huge as well.”
The experience of preparing for major county occasions should stand to him on Sunday.
“The preparations going into a lot of Louth games, the plan is nearly put in place for you, and I like to just alter that myself and work around that, and I suppose I approach every match the same, so Sunday will be no different.”