Lisbellaw St Patrick’s will get their Ulster Club campaign underway on Sunday when they host Newry Shamrocks at Brewster Park (1.30pm) and manager David Teague has his sights set on progressing to the last four of the competition.
Lisbellaw have a squad of players with a lot of inter-county experience with Fermanagh but as Teague explains they are at a disadvantage to other sides in the competition due to having no championship in Fermanagh to compete in.
“Preparations have gone well and we’ve had a few challenge games and that has brought us up the levels because compared to other teams you are not getting the same games.
“We are playing Newry on Sunday and they are only after coming through a six game championship so they have had championship hurling week after week where we played in the Armagh League final on August 17 and that was our last competitive game,” he said.
So, the fact that a lot of the squad have been playing championship football with their clubs has benefitted Lisbellaw.
“I think that football has actually helped us because it has kept the boys playing competitive games and kept them in shape and then with the men that don’t play football I was able to work away with them. It is hopefully all coming together at the right time,” he added.
And Teague says that he should have a full squad to select from on Sunday.
“The last man was Conor McShea with the Gaels but with them unfortunately losing on Sunday he will be available for selection.
“We have a clean bill of health which is the first thing you look for going into the championship.”
He knows though that Lisbellaw face a tough test against the Down side with one player in particular going to have to be carefully watched by the St. Patrick’s defenders.
“I went up and watched their final on Sunday and they are a good side. Their centre half forward Paul Sheehan is one of Down’s better players and Down play two championships above Fermanagh so that in itself tells us that he is a man that will definitely need watching. From play and frees he was their go to man,” stated Teague.
The Lisbellaw manager though is pleased with his own squad and has some exciting young talent coming through from the side that won the Fermanagh Junior Championship title.
It is great to have a few of those lads breaking through. Eoin Cleary was the captain and Micheal Flanagan and Enda McCabe are still at school but they are hurling outrageously well, the two of them, and are fighting to get into the starting 15,” he commented.
Teague is also hoping that home advantage works in his side’s favour.
“Most of the lads are playing county hurling so they will have had a good few games at Brewster Park each year and they will be well familiar with it. Look, with home advantage we are confident in ourselves that we can come out on the right end of the result.”
So, what will it take for Lisbellaw to book their place in the last four?
“Everything we have worked on up to now. We want to take the simple option and do the basics right because this is November hurling and it could be difficult conditions.
“I think if we do the simple things right we have the team who can beat anyone in this competition so we are just concentrating on ourselves and hoping to get to the level we know that we can be,” he concluded.
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