Louth GAA club | ‘If you don’t shoot, you don’t score’: Grant hails Barrs’ character

Naomh Fionnbarra manager Brendan Grant hailed his players' determination after they came from behind to claim the Louth GAA DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship title with a dramatic victory over Dundalk Young Irelands at Páirc Uí Thaibh in Tallanstown on Saturday afternoon.

Matthew O'Reilly was once again the hero for the Barrs, landing two late two-pointers to secure a two-point victory and bring the Christy Bellew Cup back to Togher for the first time in six years.

Having also produced the crucial late scores to force a replay the previous weekend, O'Reilly delivered when it mattered most, much to the delight of his manager.

Speaking after the game, he told the Dundalk Democrat, “I'm just delighted for everybody to get over the line today. I think we were sort of disappointed last week because we never came away with a win, even though we were five points down in the second half.

“I always knew we would be there or thereabouts on the home straight. Disappointed to say last week, but I knew coming into the game today we had enough in the arsenal to get over the line.”

Recovery

Grant admitted the short turnaround between the two finals had presented its own challenges.

“Ultimately, during the week our main concerns were repairing the bodies and repairing the minds as such because it's a mentally draining experience when you're in a final", he said.

“It takes a lot out of you mentally, so it was just good to get the bodies refocused Tuesday night again and to get the bodies healed and just refocusing on the job in hand.”

The Barrs had plenty to overcome after conceding a goal and missing a first-half penalty to trail by three points at the half-time interval.

“We went in three points down at half-time. Ultimately, I thought we could have been four up. We created a lot of chances, and I knew if we created the same chances in the second half, things would turn.

The tide would turn as such, and luckily some of them went over the bar this time.”

Belief

O'Reilly's willingness to take on difficult scoring opportunities ultimately proved decisive, with the manager fully supportive of his match-winner's approach.

“If you don't shoot, you don't score. If somebody takes three or four two-pointer opportunities and they score two, they've still got four points at the end of the day.

“It's one of those, if you don't shoot, you don't score, and we're just delighted that they went over.”

Togetherness

While Matthew O'Reilly took the headlines, Grant stressed that the championship success was down to the commitment of the entire panel.

“It's a full-team effort, it's a full-panel effort. I thought the subs came on and brought the energy that we needed when they came on the pitch.

“Ultimately, it's not the 15 or the 20 or the 5 that came on as well. It's the group in general. We have 35, 38 boys training some nights, and it's the club as well.

“Everybody has bought in this year. There was no stone left unturned. Everybody put their shoulder to the wheel, and thankfully, I'm just delighted for everybody getting the rewards.”

For Grant, the achievement also carried considerable personal satisfaction, as he guided the Barrs back to intermediate grade for next season.

“You feel a more sense of pride when you're involved in a team. I consider this an honour to be entrusted to take a team from another club. So, listen, a sense of pride, and I'm just delighted for everybody involved in the club.”

Ambition

With Leinster club championship action awaiting next weekend against Barcelona, Grant is determined that his players enjoy their success before turning their attention to the next challenge.

“I'm delighted for the boys to experience that, especially the younger boys coming through. We'll enjoy tonight, and we'll refocus from tomorrow onwards.”

And having achieved their main objective of promotion to the intermediate ranks, Grant believes the experience gained throughout the campaign will stand his young squad in good stead.

“Every game and every Championship game we had this year, we were one step further up that ladder. Ultimately, our goal at the end of the year was to get to the top, the top rung.

“We've done that, and the boys have learned an awful lot this year. So, listen, I'm hoping that we can bring that next year and go forward and show a bit of experience going into Leinster.”