Liatroim Fontenoys back in the frame for All-Ireland success

Liatroim Fontenoy’s are no strangers to competing at All-Ireland Club level as they claimed back to back Junior titles in 2004 and 2005. This Sunday they face Lismore of Waterford in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-Final with many players who shared in their previous successes at National Level.

Weather conditions has made preparations for February Championship games tough but midfielder Grainne O’Higgins believes that her side have prepared as well as possible.

‘Training has improved as we get closer as we get focused on the game. With winter training you may have players who have the odd twinge but we’ve worked on those and hopefully everyone should be set for Sunday. We’ve been going since well before Christmas so training has been great so far. The commitment and attitude by the girls has been fantastic and we just want to ensure that we bring that to the pitch now on Sunday’.

For a team to maintain that attitude and commitment it can be difficult but Grainne believes that her management have brought it some external assistance to keep things fresh and strengthen the team ahead of Sunday’s game.

‘We’ve had a few different coaches come in to help us look at the tactical side of things as well as areas of speed endurance so we have a variety of people which helps mix it up and we are now looking to peak for this weekend. We can’t really do any more so it will be just on the day’.  

Liatroim have prepared by getting in some challenge games against local third level sides and also Ulster Senior Champions Eoghan Rua but didn’t deem it necessary to pick the brains of Eoghan Rua who faced Lismore on their journey to All-Ireland Intermediate success in the recent past. Grainne insists that there is no point in getting too caught up on their opposition and they must work on their own game.

Grainne in action in the NWP Recycling Ulster Intermediate Club Final v Eglish

‘We have faced Jordanstown, Queens and Eoghan Rua and that was a real tough challenge for us, it has been hard in the difficult with the weather but we have been doing as much as possible so given the conditions. We have also been helped out a lot by getting the use of various facilities. We didn’t ask any advice on Lismore as we are happy with where we are and haven’t looked at them too much and we are focusing on ourselves. We need to focus on our strengths, yes every team will have stronger players but we’ll play our own game and take the games as we go along’.

With a strong mix of youth and experience Liatroim Fontenoys are well placed to make an appearance in Croke Park on March 2 ^nd .

Liatroim Fontenoys v Lismore (Waterford)

AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Semi-Final Sunday 2 ^nd February 2pm, Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath