Both manager Terence Reynolds and club captain Sean McWeeney spoke about how taking it one game at a time was key to Aughnasheelin’s IFC win at the weekend.
Speaking to finalwhistle.ie yesterday, Reynolds shared how his advice to the players was key after a missing out on a top two spot in the group.
“We took it a game at a time. One game down, one to go. We weren’t always looking ahead to the final as such.”
Aughnasheelin missed out on a top two spot largely due to a 4-10 to a 1-16 loss against Allen Gaels back in September. A massive part of putting that behind them was shoring up the defence.
“It was very much a strange game against Allen Gaels that day, we felt we gave them everything. We gave them four goals, we felt we’ve cut that out in that the three matches since. We’ve only conceded 23 scores, so the boys have done well.
“That day we conceded 4-10 and I think 1-17 is the highest we’ve conceded since. So the boys tightened up, we’ve cut out the errors, we brought the way today with the breakdown, we brought the war with their kick-out and we got a lot of change out of that.”
Reynolds concedes that his team wasn’t flawless on the day and that they perhaps left some points on the field in the first half. But a strong second half saw his team get over the line.
“Didn’t get enough on the scoreboard, I felt we were eight or nine points the better team on the day, but we fed a lot of ball into the keepers hands and kicked it away in the first half. I feel that if we tacked on another two or three scores it wouldn’t have totally been against the run of play.
“One thing Aughnasheelin will bring and have brought every game this year is intensity and honesty and out in those conditions, intense play and honesty of effort can bring you a long way.
“We still have that bit of class up top and you need that bit of class to get 11 or 12 scores in those conditions. But it was all about not conceding another goal, because to get a goal back in those conditions is a very difficult thing.”
His captain Sean McWeeney also remarked on how well his side did on the scoring front, given the conditions the day provided, as well as the camaraderie among the squad.
“We met yesterday during the day and we said it’s going to be an absolute dogfight and that’s exactly how it turned out. Conditions out there weren’t ideal but 11 points isn’t bad going on a wet October’s day, we’re happy with that.
“For us this year, it’s been a lot more than football. We’ve had some conversations where it’s been uncomfortable, it’s been tough, but it’s been worth it. To be honest with you, we’re an absolute band of brothers out there.”
McWeeney praised Reynolds as being a huge reason as to why Aughnasheelin are now back in Senior football, given they have previous with him.
“Terence whether he likes to admit it or not is an Aughnasheelin man! He was with us back in 2016 when we lost to Ballinaglera in the semi-final by three points, which I’ll never forget.
“We knew at the start of the year that we needed someone good coming in as soon as we saw Terence was available, we sought him out.
“He’s just top class, really cool, calm and composed. From a teaching point of view he always gives specific points, you know you’re not going out with an information overload because it’s very simple and very basic. He also brought a bit of passion to us and kept us together at times when we needed to stay together and we can’t thank him enough for that.”
When asked about the provincial clash that now lies ahead, McWeeney went back to Reynolds initial lesson, which is to take it one game at a time.
“We play the Roscommon champions as far as I know. But, to be honest with you, that’s further down the line and the one thing he (Terence) said is that every single game is just one down, one to go. One game at a time, get our matchups right like we did today and just perform on the day for 60 minutes and that’s all we could have done.”
There are rumours concerning the current Aughnasheelin setup that some of this years panel will not be back for senior next year for various reasons. The skipper is determined however that with youth coming through, they can handle it.
“We’ll have young lads coming through. This year we were lucky with the four young lads that came through and it will be the same next year, that’s what it’s all about.
“We actually said at half time we will probably never have this team sitting together again, so we just make the most of the now, that’s all you really can do.”
Aughnasheelin will indeed face the winner of the Roscommon Intermediate Football Championship in the Connacht semi-final, but the Roscommon Inter Champions are yet to be determined. St. Dominics face Eire Og in the final this Sunday, October 30th, so Aughnasheelin will be keeping an eye on that one.
