LGFA IFC - Graiguecullen have one thing in mind - put losing finals behind them 

GRAIGUECULLEN are back in yet another Laois LGFA Intermediate county final, but have yet to experience the feeling of winning one, which would take them to the senior grade.

Lauren Walsh and Caoimhe Fitzpatrick spoke to the media on Friday evening at the LOETB Portlaoise Institute.

Lauren Walsh spoke of the team’s desire to make the big step up.

“This year, we're very hungry for it and we have a point to prove. We were very close last year, only two points in the end. We started very slowly last year and that was the killer for us. But this year we've been playing very well from the start. We have to be on it from the whistle,” Walsh said.

Fitzpatrick admitted that they don’t want to experience the feeling of yet another Intermediate final loss “There were two points in it last year, so that's a county final behind us. This year we're going into another final and the feeling that we had last year, we don't want that again. I think this year we're going to push on; we've played them already,” Fitzpatrick said.

Walsh feels that Graiguecullen’s younger players have been instrumental in them getting back to the final.

“We've played Brigid’s already, we know what to expect. We've got a few younger girls who have come up that have made a massive difference for us. We've had numbers this year, whereas in previous years we've struggled to fill a team. That's been a big difference for us this year, fresh legs coming on and stuff like that,” Walsh said.

Graiguecullen will go into the final with a target on their backs, having already beaten St Brigid’s in the championship. Fitzpatrick says it was the same going into last year’s final when they took on St Joseph’s.

“No doubt they are gunning for us. St Joseph's beat us in the championship last year and we were gunning for them, so we know what to expect. We know they're going to want a good match. It's going to be a dogfight because everyone steps up on county final day,” Fitzpatrick added.

“Also, they were missing some girls, just like we were missing some girls in that game. It was the early stages of it, too; things were still being put in place and the structure wasn't there. You could see that for both teams, we were just lucky on the day we showed up,” Walsh said.

On the injury front, Walsh said that Graiguecullen are at full strength for the first time in a few years and that they’ve had everyone for the last few games.

“No, we're full on, which is probably the first time in the last couple of years. The only game we had everyone last year was the day of the final. Every game, we were missing players. At the start of this year, we were missing a couple of girls but in the last two or three games, we've had everyone,” she said.

This year’s final will feel a bit different as last year’s final was played in O’Moore Park. This year’s decider is due to be played in Annanough.

Both players admitted to feeling frustrated and disappointed by the venue change.

“We're all raging because you want to get up the steps and lift a cup. We won't be able to do that this year, but hopefully, we will still lift a cup,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I do think it is a bit of a dampener because everyone loves going to watch the men play in O’Moore Park and the buzz of it all. But at the end of the day, it's still a final, we still have to go out and win it,” Walsh said.

Graiguecullen have never played a senior championship game, but Fitzpatrick and Walsh are hoping that can change for next year.

“It would be something else. It means so much to everyone. It's been a long time coming; we've been so close for so many years. We've been in about eight finals. We know what it feels like to lose and we're just sick of it at this stage,” Fitzpatrick said.

“Something does feel different this year. I don't know what it is. Some of the younger girls coming up, they're so confident, they're so good. I think that is making a massive difference,” Walsh said.

Walsh, who was part of the Laois ladies panel this season that reached the All-Ireland final, says the experience she gained at inter-county level has been invaluable, not just for herself, but for the younger players in the squad who have also worn the county jersey.

“I've learned a lot. I played a small part; I didn't play a whole lot. Especially coming up to the All-Ireland and stuff, but I definitely learned a lot. I've found being in with Laois just puts different perspectives on things. It's good being able to go back and bring that back to the girls.

“Other girls on the team have been in with the county. A few of the minors, like Kathlyn (Timmons) and Mia (Branagan), and then Hannah (Kerfah) and Ashlee (Smith), were with the 16s. We also have Mags McEvoy, who played previously, a few years ago, with Laois. Mia has been flying it for us this year, and all she sees are goals. Now I know, on the day that might be different because they're going to try to stop that. But girls like that, at such a young age coming up, you can see the confidence that the county has given them, so it’ll make a massive difference for us,” Walsh added.