Erne Gaels manager, Maurice McLaughlin, is treading a fine line with his players as they prepare for their clash with Derrygonnelly in the senior county final this Sunday. 
It is the first time in 35 years that the club have reached the final and understandably excitement has been at fever pitch in and around the village of Belleek.
“Of course the buzz has been there and everyone involved in the club and in the community is looking forward to the final and to be honest it is fantastic for the community. 
“Obviously there has been a lot made of the fact it has been 35 years and people are hoping that we can emulate that team but from a player and management point of view we have to be very careful and to be honest we are trying to detach ourselves from it all as much as possible,” McLaughlin explained.
The Erne Gaels boss is concentrating on the mechanics of trying to win a first senior championship in 35 years and he believes that it will take more of the same if his side are to take home the New York Cup.
“We are approaching it the same as the other games that we have played and looking to get to a certain level of performance. 
“If we can do that, like we have in other games, then I think that we will be there or thereabouts.”
Erne Gaels produced excellent displays to see off Irvinestown and Roslea in the quarter final and semi final respectively winning both games comfortably and McLaughlin admits that he was pleased with what he saw.
“We were maybe a bit sloppy at the end of the Irvinestown game where we conceded a few goals but overall we played well and against Roslea I thought we produced a very calm and assured second half display.”
That Roslea win reversed Erne Gaels fortunes from the previous year where the Shamrocks beat the Belleek men after a replay in the semi final. 
On that occasion Erne Gaels had a number of men sent off and their discipline held under the microscope although McLaughlin believes that there was perhaps too much read in to that fact;
“I think people looked at what happened and the fact we had men sent off and maybe jumped to some conclusions. 
“We have been a work in progress over the last number years and we have always wanted to improve and I think that we have been doing that;” he said, before adding that he expects his side to show discipline in many different ways;
“Obviously discipline is very important. All successful teams have discipline but it is more that just on the pitch it is also about discipline off the pitch and in your preparation. So that’s what we have been striving for and I think all teams are the same.”
Turning his attention to Derrygonnelly, McLaughlin was full of praise of the Harps, who are going for the first back to back titles in the clubs history;
“The simple fact is that Derrygonnelly are county champions and league champions for a reason. They have raised the bar and it is up to every other club in the county to try and reach their level. So we have a huge task on our hands this weekend but we are looking forward to it and hopefully we can go out and give our best,” he stated.
In conclusion McLaughlin returned to his original theme of making sure that Erne Gaels do not get carried away with all the hype leading to Sunday’s game;
“It is fantastic to be in the championship final and it is an achievement in itself but we have to make sure now that we go out and approach things in the same way we have approached things to date. I said it before, we want to produce a performance and if we do then we will be there or thereabouts.”