McKenna: 'We won't take a step back'

Paul Fitzpatrick spoke to Laragh United captain Fergal McKenna ahead of the Intermediate Championship final.

Having come so close in recent years, Laragh were determined to go the extra step and make the Intermediate Championship final this time around. 
An injury crisis early in the season resulted in a few league defeats but they have righted the ship impressively and, after a stuttering start to the championship, they have secured their passage to the big day.
"Playing Division 1 football was a big help and we're timing it right because we had a few injuries and it's coming right now,” says captain Fergal McKenna.
“If we push on and win it, well, that's the next thing. The injuries were just at the wrong times and things didn't go our way but we probably got a lot of luck in the semi-final but we'll take that, too, because we've been unlucky a few times in the last few years."
Laragh have lost out by very narrow margins in the knockout stages in recent years. Was it hard to keep returning each year to go again?
"It's not easy, yeah but this is what we're meant to be doing. We're here to play football and win something and we love doing it... and we're going to win something this year. I'm not overly confident but if we play to the best we can play there's not a team in Cavan that'll play with us but we have to play well and know the occasion because we've never been in a final before so, hopefully, the occasion doesn't get to the boys. 
“Belturbet are good, very strong and they've plenty of older fellas that are experienced and know how to get stuck in so it'll not be an easy game but we'll take it and hopefully go and do the business."
In the semi-final against Cuchulainns, Laragh played on the edge and came through with a late goal in a brilliant game. 
"We're not here to take a backwards step, we're here to go forward all the time. We want to win it, so if we have to get stuck in and get down and do the dirty things, we'll do them and if we don't, we'll play football, too.
"But we've brilliant forwards, the best in the county on their day and if it all goes right for them we'll push on and win...
"A lot of this team have underage medals it's now about coming right at the right time and everyone's old enough and getting stronger every year so it's about time."
Laragh were stunned by Drumgoon in the opening round but didn't let it affect them, according to their full-back.
"We didn't panic, we just had a bad game. Drumgoon played well and were the better team on the day but we didn't panic. [After] it was all to play for and we pushed on, tried hard and got going and we had a good game against the Bridge and Bailieborough and it was tough against Cornafean, so it's not been easy...
"We're good enough to mix with anyone, there's no team that beat us by a lot in the league. We're good enough to match it in Division One. I wouldn't be scared of anyone or fear anyone."
At just 22, McKenna is a young captain but, he says, “everyone's young” on this Laragh team. Belturbet certainly have more older players but McKenna and his teammates are relishing the challenge.
"With Belturbet, you have to match up on them. They've very good going forward, they've plenty of good forwards, and they're strong at the back - they drop a lot of men back and they're physical. We just have to keep the ball out of the tackle and keep taking scores every chance you get while keeping it tight at the back. Hopefully we'll do it now."