Derrylin will need little motivation when they face Coa in the Junior Championship Final on Saturday.

Last year’s beaten finalists will be determined to banish the ghosts of 2019 and for their manager Aiden Gilroy, it is the hurt of that defeat that will be pushing them on in Brewster Park.

“Whenever I spoke to them at the start of the year I was asking them what did they think went wrong in the final because they beat the Bridge in the semi final and we were trying to see what the difference was and they felt the occasion got the better of them,” explained Gilroy.

“Hopefully they will not be too worried about the occasion. If we can get them playing the match and not the occasion that will be the goal for Saturday night.”

Gilroy has been pleased with how things have been shaping up for the O’Connell’s and with the constant football he has seen a good response from his players.

“The one good thing about a championship run is you will always get the boys out at training.

“We have played four games already and we have been out four or five weeks with good numbers so it is building up nicely and thankfully there are no real injury concerns so that is all you can really ask for.”

He knows the threat Coa will pose with the likes of Cathal Beacom, Gary Lynch, Ryan Hanna and Eoin Donnelly all capable of having huge influence in the game.

“I watched their game against Newtown and they are very good team. I heard Cathal Beacom say he has won three Junior championships so they have plenty of experience.

“They will be very hard to beat and we will have to be at ourselves to make it tight.”

Gilroy points to the 20 points Coa hit in the semi final win over Newtown and the threat their full forward line poses but he knows he has players capable of stepping up to the task at both ends of the pitch.

“Our full back line will have to be at it Declan Curry, Eamonn Gunn and Declan McGovern, three good lads but that is where Coa’s strength is. Firing 20 points in the semi final is tight scoring.”

Gilroy can also look to Luke Flanagan for man marking duty while at the other end Ferghal McGovern, Jake Smith will be expected to lead the forward line.

But at the end of the day Gilroy is looking to keep his players relaxed and make sure the do themselves justice on the day.

“The plan is to be relaxed. The fact there won’t be as many there with the restrictions might help.

“We have a pre match routine all year and we will stick to that and treat it like every other game we have played.

“We know it is a big game and we need to play and I want them to show they can perform on the big stage,” added Gilroy.