“It's not beyond this group of boys” – Stabannon boss Sweeney backs his players in Leinster

Stabannon Parnells’ senior football manager, Shane Sweeney, believes his side can make their mark in Leinster as the Louth GAA intermediate champions prepare to face Wicklow champions Dunlavin in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final at Echelon Park, Aughrim, on Saturday, 14th November at 2.30pm.

Having waited 37 years to reclaim the Seamus Flood Cup with a dramatic victory over St Brides, the mid-Louth men have secured their return to senior football for 2027.

Stabannon's triumph was sealed when 18-year-old substitute Charlie McBride struck a dramatic two-pointer in added time before Conor Clinton added another score.

Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat, Sweeney admitted that the achievement had yet to sink in. He said, “It hasn't really sunk in yet, no.

“I suppose when we're finished in Leinster, hopefully a little bit further on, when we're finished completely, when you sit down, and you're reflecting on the season gone by, that's when it'll really sink in.

“You’ll look back and say, yeah, just we had a great year and winning the championship after losing last years, that's when it'll really hit home and notice what happened and what them boys have done.”

Spirit

The intermediate victory followed a minor championship win a week earlier, and Sweeney has been delighted by the atmosphere around Páirc Parnell, with supporters coming out to watch his players prepare for their Leinster campaign.

“The mood around the club since the final has been great and everyone was buzzing. To win a minor the week before and then to win the intermediate, the club is just so special up there, everybody around.

“To see everyone still coming out and still going up to watch the boys train and prepare for Leinster, it's just special for them boys.”

Confidence

Stabannon's county final comeback showed their resilience as they trailed St Brides by a point going into stoppage time, but Sweeney believes that dramatic finish has strengthened his players' confidence ahead of their provincial campaign.

“They're full of confidence after winning the intermediate championship; they're buzzing, and they're getting ready to go again.

“Looking to have a great few days after it, but they knuckled down on the Friday, actually, after the final, and they decided, this is it, we want to give it a crack.”

Commitment

The first training session following the celebrations proved difficult, but the manager was encouraged by the squad's response and determination to maintain their momentum.

“The Friday session wasn't just great; there was a lot of black smoke coming out of them, but I knew we got out of them, and they've been back training since, and everyone's there.”

Youth

The form of Stabannon's younger players has provided another boost, particularly McBride, whose county final heroics have been followed by impressive performances at school level.

“Some of the boys have been playing with the school as well. There's Charlie, who scored the two-pointer for us; he scored 12 points while playing school football the other day, so he's full of confidence at this moment in time, which is great for him and us.

“Then the other young lads as well, playing very well at the schools, and a couple of boys, we had them go off and play with the colleges too, just to get a little bit of football into them as well. They're all doing well and playing well.”

Preparation

Sweeney has been pleased with his players' commitment in training and is hopeful of having a strong panel available for the trip to Aughrim.

“The Leinster final against Dunlaven the preparations are going well, we have no real injury worries, just a couple little niggles, but that's only, they're only minor little things, but we'll get them sorted.

“The boys are back training; they're training, actually training hard, nearly as hard as they were training up to the intermediate final.”

Focus

Despite the celebrations surrounding their long-awaited championship success, Sweeney insists there has been no difficulty getting his players focused on the challenge ahead.

“We look at the focus on the job ahead; they know what they want to do and they want to give this a good old crack, you know, which they're well capable of doing.”

Opposition

Dunlavin present a tough challenge on home soil and also have the advantage of already experiencing provincial action, while Stannford are entering following a break since their county final.

“Dunlavin, we've seen them playing in the first round; they're a fair side now, in fairness to them, a lot of big physical players, they've three or four county players actually playing with them, but look, they're going to be a huge challenge.

“They will have their tails up, I suppose, after winning the first round, where we are coming in after nearly a three-week break.”

Attack

With Ryan Shevlin, Harry Butterly and Seán Reynolds among their attacking threats, Stabannon hope to reproduce the football that secured the Seamus Flood Cup.

“If we bring our game, the running game we like to play, and at pace and stuff, we can cause them a lot of problems. Playing in the Leinster Intermediate Championship, it's just, it means an awful lot to the club and the community.

“You'd love to be able to go and get into the Leinster final, but you never know what would happen after that, and it's not beyond this group of boys.”

Challenge

Having responded to last year's disappointment by returning to the intermediate final and winning the title, Stabannon have demonstrated their ability to deliver under pressure.

“It's going to take a monumental effort for most to beat Dunlavin. It's in Aughrim; it's an away game for us, but if we bring our ‘A-game ’ and a complete performance, I have no doubt that we can get one over them, which would be brilliant for us to know as it leads into the semi-final then.

“There's a good bit of work to do on different things, just looking through games and watching a few games of theirs and stuff.

“Their kick-outs and bits and pieces, we feel that we can maybe pressure that kick-out, so we've got a bit of work now to do just over the weekend and get ready for next week's training and the boys know what they have to do going into that Dunlavin game.”

Opportunity

Pressuring Dunlavin's kick-outs and imposing their trademark running game could prove crucial as Stabannon look to prolong their remarkable season.

“We get a win down there, it'll be great to keep the show on the road for another two weeks. It brings you right up to the end of November before the boys know it, to be back training again for the pre-season.

“We'll keep this run going as long as we can keep going; we'll keep it going. That's the plan. They're good enough to do it.”