Scars of last year’s defeat will drive St Loman’s on

Still reeling from defeat by The Downs in last year’s senior football final, St Loman’s, Mullingar go in search of what would be the current side’s seventh Flanagan Cup success when they meet Coralstown/Kinnegad in next Sunday’s eagerly awaited final at TEG Cusack Park (2.15pm).

Manager Paddy Dowdall, installed at the start of the year, is in his maiden season as a manager and says the hurt of last year will drive on his players. They have produced some impressive form thus far and go into the final as strong favourites to atone for last year’s setback.

“I don’t think any of those defeats in a county final ever go away. They are little scars that are sitting there and for a lot of these players you try and move on. It is a new year, it is a new final, and you build towards this final. We are really looking forward to Sunday’s final,” he said, looking ahead to the big day.

Coralstown/Kinnegad are new opponents and will be eager to write their own story: the club has been waiting a quarter of a century to get back to a senior final, so they will be highly motivated.

“It will be completely different from last year,” acknowledges Dowdall.

“Jack (Cooney) and Paschal (Kellaghan) have built a very good team. Tactically, they are a team that are very hard to break down; technically they are very good on the ball and they have huge pace in the team, and they work really hard. It is a real good Coralstown/Kinnegad team and one that we are really looking forward to going into battle with.”

It’s been quite an impressive season for the saints, who have produced some great victories, particularly in the semi-final when they put Tyrrellspass to the sword in impressive style. Dowdall credits the players with having the focus and drive to deliver when it matters.

“We can plan all we want but the players have to buy into what you are selling and put in the performance out on the field, otherwise it can go very wrong for you very quickly. We have a team ready, and we have a few guys who can come off the bench and really influence the game and they have done that in the last few games and they are a vital part of this team,” he remarked.

“For us, we have been going very well in the last few games and going well in training and the guys are buzzing and looking forward to this county final. It is a pleasure to be the manager of this team. We are really looking forward to the big game next week. The build up has come around very quick but we will be ready for it.”

Sunday’s opposition will be no strangers to Dowdall and co.

“We have played them three times this year. We played them first in the league and we were lucky to come out with a draw that day. Then in the league final they beat us well and then in the group stages of the championship they drew when they scored with the last kick of the game,” he noted

“For me they are probably the form team coming into this. They have been playing very well and they should be slight favourites, maybe!”

Dowdall was part of the St Loman’s side right up to last year and this year plays with the junior team who have also reached the final next weekend, so he is very much in tune with what they players are feeling.

“It is hard at times, but at the same time I know the lads individually very well. I know their strengths and weaknesses and things they need to improve on, as well as myself and things I need to improve on, because I have been learning through the year as well,” he said.

“It takes a whole team of management to get this job done and I was lucky enough to get a great backroom team together. We have been planning for this for quite some time. As much as Jack knows our players inside out, our players know a lot of their players and this is our third game this year between the sides so it is just going to be a fight to the very end.”

Dowdall’s side have a nice blend of youth and experience, with the likes of John Heslin having played in several senior finals at this stage.

“We knew at the start of the year we had to build a panel and that was key to our progress and we have done that. We have built a very good panel with a mixture of youth and experience in the team with loads of energy. We have built it slowly from late January up until now,” he remarked. “We have no major injury worries. No more than Kinnegad, we probably have a few lads who have a couple of niggly injuries but everyone is fit and looking forward to it.”