Keaney: 'Ballyhaise are buzzing for final'

GAA news

Killygarry native Damien Keaney has become the fourth manager to bring a Cavan team to the Ulster intermediate final in its 20-year history. Mullahoran (2018) and Lavey (2009) came up short while Ballinagh lifted the Patrick McCully Cup in 2007.

It’s a busy time for the former county player, who is vice-principal of Corlurgan NS and is now a selector with the Cavan senior team under Raymond Galligan as well.

On Monday evening last, Keaney attended the media launch night for the Ulster senior and intermediate finals at the Tyrone Centre of Excellence in Garvaghey and, he told the Anglo-Celt, preparations are going well at Annalee Park.

“From the win the last day, there’s a good buzz as there was anyway but there’s a real buzz since the last day. Training has been going really well, fellas are keen to get out and play.

“The supporters want to get there and watch, we want to get the game on the road and the players just can’t wait to play,” Keaney said.

If Ballyhaise were to get the better of Cullyhanna, it would mean this year has been Cavan’s most successful Ulster club campaign and the county are now behind them.

“That’s true. I know we were watching out for Arva there when they had such a successful run in winning the Ulster title. I’m sure there are people in every club that will be watching out, there’s people in every club that would have been going to games over the years whether Cavan teams were in it or not.

“I know myself and my Dad would always have gone to (Ulster club) games. So this is a special thing to have in our county, a club going so well, and hopefully they can get over the line.”

In a twist, Ballyhaise enter Sunday’s final as underdogs having worn the favourites tag in every championship game so far this season, within the county and in their two Ulster Club matches to date.

Having lost two Intermediate Championship finals in succession (by a point to Butlersbridge and by a goal to Castlerahan), Ballyhaise were highly fancied this year and they dealt with that pressure well.

This Sunday, though, Cullyhanna will carry the favourites’ tag into battle.

“It’s a different set-up I suppose,” the county senior selector explained.

“Ballyhaise have been more or less favourites all the way through the county championship. Winning that was a huge relief for the team and the club but going into Ulster it’s a real sense of enjoying themselves and expressing themselves.

“It’s just a real chance for them to show what they can do and so far that’s going well and let’s hope we can get one more game.”

Keaney has shown how well he prepares his teams so far in the championship and has been studying Cullyhanna.

Ballyhaise are currently unbeaten in 13 matches, with their last loss coming in an All-County Football League match against Crosserlough back on May 23.

Since then, they have drawn with Cavan Gaels and beaten Mullahoran, Killygarry and Ballinagh in the Division 1 league.

In the county Intermediate Championship, they beat Bailieborough Shamrocks (1-9 to 0-8), Cuchulainns (1-14 to 1-12), Butlersbridge (1-12 to 0-9) and drew with Ballymachugh (1-12 apiece).

In the knock-out stages of the county championship, Ballyhaise saw off Drumlane (1-15 to 0-12), Killinkere (1-17 to 2-9) and Denn (0-13 to 0-7), before beating Ná Dúnaibh from Donegal (4-15 to 0-11) and Derry champions Glenullin (1-14 to 1-13) in Ulster.

It's an impressive run but Cullyhanna, in an Ulster final, will be expected to be their toughest test to date. The Orchard side are rated as one of the best teams in the county but through freak circumstances, found themselves relegated to Division 2 of the league, which automatically demoted them to the Intermediate Championship.

“They are a very, very experienced team. They seem to have got a number of players back this year and have been very strong at intermediate level,” Keaney said.

“They have at least three county senior Armagh players so it’s going to be a very tough task. I was lucky enough to get to see them against Liatroim (Down champions) so it was good to have that. At least you can get an idea of what way they are setting up and what they’re doing.

“They were hot favourites for the Ulster title. They managed to beat a fancied Pomeroy team in the first round. I think they’re second favourites to win the All-Ireland so it’s going to be tough but the Ballyhaise players are ready for this task.”

The Ballyhaise captain Padraig Moore came off just after half-time in their semi-final win over Glenullin, having also been replaced in the first half after scoring 2-2 against Na Dúnaibh in the quarter-final, so will Keaney have a full hand to pick from for Sunday?

“Padraig is fine. He’s rearing to go. I got a text from him earlier today saying he absolutely can’t wait for this game. He’s had a niggling injury but he’s well rested and he’s ready to play next Sunday.

“There’s a couple of other lads with niggles and injuries but by and large we’re injury free and rearing to go.”

Cullyhanna have came up against two mass defences so far in the Ulster championship while Ballyhaise have been a high pressing team so will we see a change in tactics from Ballyhaise on Sunday?

“I usually only decide those things on the day.” Keaney joked.

“As far as I can see, most teams in Ulster are playing very very defensively and I think obviously you do have to defend but you can trust your players and I would really encourage our players to go at these teams.

“If you’re marking somebody, properly mark him. Don’t half-mark him, don’t stand off him and see how you go because that’s how you learn. If you don’t really go for it and you don’t get stuck into a player, then you don’t really know where you stand.

“We’ve encouraged lads to do that, and they’ve responded to that and if it doesn’t go well for them or it doesn’t happen, they can learn from that and they can move on in the next play or the next game or whatever it needs to be.”