LGFA JFC - Younger players coming through can provide Portlaoise with the impetus to go all the way

THE Portlaoise Junior footballers are preparing for a huge showdown as they face Killeshin in this year’s LOETB Laois LGFA county final.

Ahead of the clash, players Emma Dunne and Amy Byrne, along with manager Mark Brophy, shared their thoughts at the LOETB Portlaoise Institute on Friday evening.

Emma Dunne says anticipation is high after months of hard work on the training ground.

“I suppose we're really looking forward to it. We've been training all year, we're improving all year, so we're really looking forward to it and hope we get the win out of it.” Reflecting on their semi-final win, Emma Dunne praised her teammates’ determination to get over the line.

“The Heath, it was a great battle, it could have went either way, but I think in the end we really fought, we worked hard together, so we're delighted with the win.” Amy Byrne highlighted the value of experience within the panel, with younger players coming through alongside more seasoned campaigners.

“We have a good few players now that are coming up from minor and they're fantastic footballers and I suppose the bit of experience from playing in games like this can be filtered down now through them. There are a few other players that are in the same boat as me, so it's nice to have that filtered down into the other players.” The presence of young county players has also boosted the squad, according to Byrne.

“They had a good year last year and I’m sure they'll have a good year again this year. They're good players, we've a couple of them that were in with the county team that did well this year, they won a Leinster final and they're fantastic footballers and they'll be ones to watch now for the future.” As a dual player, Byrne also spoke about the challenges of fixture clashes, after Portlaoise were forced to concede a camogie game last week due to a direct clash with their Junior football semi-final.

“It's disappointing to say the least, when you're putting so much into both codes and you're not getting the same respect back, it is tough and it's hard to take. Nobody wants to have to concede games because of fixture clashes that could be avoided, so it's disappointing.” Looking at the bigger picture, manager Mark Brophy believes his side have what it takes to compete at the next level, but insists they must earn it.

“They would be, yes, without doubt, but you have to earn your step up. You have to go and win the final next week. We're not thinking about that far; we're just thinking about the match, 60 minutes against Killeshin. We need to improve, as Emma said, we've been improving all year, we just have to make that next step up and hopefully we'll have enough, but we will see on the day.” Asked where the game might be won or lost, Brophy pointed to the basics. “Well, like every game, it's who has the ball most and who makes the right decisions with the ball, and that won't change next Saturday. Killeshin are a fine side, they're unbeaten all year. We're the same, we're unbeaten in the Championship and we had a good league run as well, where we won Division 2. We've lost players, of course, to senior level, but I think we're growing and improving as a team week by week.” Finally, Brophy underlined the importance of their Division 2 league success earlier this year as a confidence booster.

“It was huge. It gave the girls the belief that they're good enough and that there's nothing like winning, every team wants to win things. If we can keep that habit and culture going, we'll be fine.”