“It’s all about belief” – Grant hails Barrs’ character in Ballinacor win

Naomh Fionnbarra & St. Anne’s senior football manager, Brendan Grant, believes his players are beginning to realise their potential after his side continued their historic provincial campaign with a victory over Wicklow champions Ballinacor.

The Louth GAA junior champions advanced to the AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship semi-final with a 1-12 to 0-12 win at Echelon Park in Aughrim on this afternoon.

Speaking after the game, Grant told the Dundalk Democrat, “I thought we started off very well. We met at about 8 o'clock this morning, so I thought we were going to be ready for the game when it came around.

“We always know these games and provincial games; there's never a moment that you're going to dominate the game with a full 60 minutes. We always knew they were going to come back in it.

“Luckily, we got a good start, and we always knew down the home straight if we were there or thereabouts, we were in with a good chance.”

The home side created a goal chance inside the opening 30 seconds, only to be denied by an excellent save from Fionnbarra goalkeeper Fionn McQuillan. Grant acknowledged the importance of having every player fully focused from the first whistle.

He said, “It just shows the importance of everybody being switched on, and lucky enough our goalkeeper was switched on in the first 30 seconds, so listen, that's his job. That's what he's there for, and that's what he does well.

“We had the momentum, and that was against the wind, which I thought was an excellent first half. But listen, we always knew they were going to come into the game.

“At some point they were going to get their purple patch. It was how we turned that tide when they did get their purple patch that was going to determine the outcome of the game.”

Defence

Ballinacor were made to wait nearly a quarter of an hour before registering their first score, with the Barrs making it difficult for the Wicklow champions to establish any attacking rhythm.

“Well, listen, we have everybody. When we don't have the ball, everybody is a defender in our eyes. That's where it works well, with the intensity we bring to the opposition defence coming out with the ball.

“I think that helps our defence to an extent. If there's a 50-50 ball that goes into our defence, I'm confident we'll come out with it. “The more 50-50 balls that are put into it, I think it's a testament to the boys working hard out on the field.”

Goalkeeper

The collective defensive effort was vital, with the contribution of 'keeper McQuillan being particularly important for the Togher side.

“I thought he was superb today. He's been good all year for us. That was one of the focuses we had this year was keeping him right, because he's a vitally important part of the team. If he's right, I just know that we'll have a good foothold in the game if he's good.”

Response

Despite their electric start, Fionnbarra were forced to withstand a second-half comeback from the Wicklow champions when they brought it back to a one-point game.

“We always knew they were going to come into the game in the second half. It was just as I said, how quick we changed the momentum when they were on top was the important factor.

“Yes, a one-point game. We brought William (Woods) off the bench, and he had a good impact in the game, and that's what we want from our bench.

“And somebody with William’s experience in these sorts of settings, it suits him to come into these sorts of games. So, listen, we're just delighted.”

Belief

The Mayobridge native has consistently maintained that his players possess the quality to compete at this level, and their performances are now providing the evidence.

“It's all about belief. I believe that the boys are good enough. It's just making them believe in it and believe in what they're asked to do and to carry out to the best of their ability.”