Regaining the focus is vital for Liatroim Fontenoys

Liatroim Fontenoys manager John Joe McCrickard has said that his side must overcome the disappointment last Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Semi-Final being postponed due to adverse weather conditions and now fully focus on the task again this Sunday when they face Lismore of Waterford in Crettyard, Co. Laois at 2pm

‘The girls were well prepared for the first game and really focused and the girls were disappointed that the game couldn’t be played but that’s the way things go sometimes. We’ve regrouped this week and its part of our job as a management team to make sure we are focused for this week ’.

Liatroim are reporting no real injury concerns where an extra week would have ensured a full clean bill of health but John Joe said he used the week instead to make sure that the tactical side of the game was clear among his players

‘We had no real injury concerns but I suppose one week wasn’t going to make a great difference to be honest. Training this week has allowed us to keep ticking over and just polished up in a few things but we are happy with where we are at’.

Liatroim Fontenoys previously won All-Ireland Junior titles in 2004 and 2005 and many players still remain from those back to back titles and the team also includes many experienced players who have represented Down in recent visits to Croke Park

‘It’s great for the club to be back in an All-Ireland Semi-Final and things themselves  go up a notch or two as a result of that excitement . I feel we have a number of experienced players in the club like Lisa McAliskey, Karen McMullan, Ciara McGovern, Emma McCormick and Grainne O’Higgins who have all represented Down in All-Ireland Finals at Croke Park and that helps the younger players where they can help the younger players along. This has counted for a lot and they are key to our set up’.

With the All-Ireland Final scheduled for Croke Park  John Joe has been eager to ensure that many of those experienced players haven’t been jumping a step ahead with thoughts of another run out in the Jones’ Road venue. With Ballyhale Shamrocks defeating Portumna in the other Semi-Final last weekend there may be some interest spectators from Kilkenny in Kinnegad on Sunday.

‘There’s been no talk about the team getting to Croke Park as we are not looking past this weekend. We can only focus on this Semi-Final. You’d expect that Ballyhale will be there taking a look but we certainly won’t be caught up in worrying about that’.

AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship Semi-Final

Liatroim Fontenoys v Lismore (Waterford)- Crettyard Co. Laois 2pm