‘If we can play to our best, we can beat any team’

At the age of 23, Paul McGrath might be considered a tad young for the role of St Brigid’s joint captain, but he was happy to take on the responsibility.

“To be honest we have so many leaders within the group that it’s not that much of an extra load. It’s just about leading by example I suppose, and there are plenty of lads here to lead by example,” he said at last week’s press function ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

Interestingly, fellow joint skipper Mark Daly (28) made his senior debut for Brigid’s in their first league game after the All-Ireland final win of 2013.

Reflecting on the 2013 final, Daly said: “They had been knocking on the door for a few years. There was a big build-up to it. Unlike now, there was few weeks leading into the final and there was a massive buzz around the parish. There was sheer emotion involved with grown men crying. It was an emotional time but a very special time for the club.”

McGrath, whose form has been very impressive in the 2023/24 campaign, has no qualms over the short gap between the All-Ireland semi-final and the decider against Derry champions Glen.

“I think a gap of two weeks is probably better for the players; it keeps you more focused,” he said. “With those long gaps, its hard to keep the mind focused. Even the five-week gap over Christmas between the Connacht final and the All-Ireland semi, it was hard to keep the focus in training.”

As for retaining fitness levels and match sharpness while still enjoying some sort of a Christmas break, Mark quipped: “I think we all became darts experts and pool experts over Christmas!”

“It was difficult in a sense but Conor Hand said it very well after the game (the Connacht final) - ‘if you have a chance of an All-Ireland final, you’d train any day of the year’. We had a few tough challenge games over Christmas and our A v B games out here are hectic and that kind of kept us sharp as well,” Daly continued.

Though doing his utmost to force his way into the team, Mark is acutely aware of the stiff competition for a midfield slot. “You have to look at the quality that’s there - two county midfielders in Shane Cunnane and Eddie Nolan. My job is to push them in training as much as I can and if Jerome (Stack) gives me the nod on the day, to try and make an influence on the game,” said Mark, who can also operate as a wing-forward.

The past success Brigid’s have enjoyed at provincial and national level is something the current squad gleaned encouragement from.

“It probably gives you that bit of belief and a bit of onus. You know what people are expecting of you - you know you have to put in the work to do them proud. You really feel that you owe them a lot,” said Paul, pointing to the contribution of the club executive and people like Maria Derwin and Sandra Griselain, who prepare meals for the players after training sessions.

When Brigid’s won their previous Roscommon title in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic ordained that there would no Connacht or All-Ireland championships. It was a factor that provided extra motivation once the Kiltoom men overcome Boyle in last October’s county final.

“We probably were a bit frustrated in 2020 not to get the chance to test ourselves against the best. It’s hard to know within your own county where your level is at. We definitely were looking forward to the Connacht phase once we did manage to win the county championship last year,” said McGrath.

The manner of the Connacht final victory over Corofin was obviously a major confidence boost for the squad. “We talked a lot about belief before that game. When you talk about belief, you still don’t really know 100 per cent until you actually go out and do it,” said Paul.

Mark added: “We had seen flashes up to that game. We knew we could do it but it was great to produce a 60-minute performance and show everyone what we can do.”

Daly described Corofin as “a great club with a great tradition” but added that “the Roscommon championship is very underrated”. “If you come out of the county, it really sets you up for a run at the All-Ireland series,” he said.

Recent campaigns bear out this analysis. Padraig Pearses followed their Fahey Cup triumph in 2021 with Connacht success and 2022 champions Strokestown pushed eventual champions Moycullen very close the following year.

As for the notion that Glen must be regarded as favourites to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup, having contested last year’s final, McGrath said: “They are a well seasoned team and they have been there or thereabouts for the last couple of years. Their goal at the start of the year was probably to get to an All-Ireland final. We know they’re going to be a massive challenge and they definitely should be favourites. But we know if we can play to our best, we can beat any team and I suppose that’s our thinking.”