When Lisbellaw and Carrickmore met in the semi-final of the Ulster Club Intermediate Championship hurling semi-final last year, a strong second half display from the Fermanagh side powered them into the final.
It was hugely impressive display from Lisbellaw and one they will hope to replicate when the sides meet again this Saturday in Carrickmore at 1.30pm.
But there are a number of different factors in play this time round. The Carmen side are at home while Lisbellaw will be missing some key players from that game.
However, Ciaran Corrigan hopes that if the ‘Law can get up to the pitch of the game they will be in with a good chance.
“Preparation has been going really well to be fair and we have had a couple of challenge matches in recent weeks too,” he explained.
“It has been a bit disjointed with football clubs being involved but no doubt that is the same for Carrickmore.
“Training has been going well. We’ve had 30 plus at training its just a matter of trying to replicate championship hurling.”
Corrigan hopes that preparation will stand to the side when they travel to the Tyrone champions who have had more exposure to championship hurling than their Lisbellaw counterparts.
“The fact that we beat them and turned them over and it is down there, they are really going to fancy their chances to really get us back.
“And I suppose it is very difficult for us coming in in many ways. Some boys like myself haven’t played a competitive hurling game since June or July and they’ve came off the back of a Tyrone championship.But we know if we can get up to speed quickly we have a strong chance.”
This year Lisbellaw will have to do so without Tom Keenan (injury) and Conor McShea (football). But Corrigan believes there are players ready to step up: “We have new boys coming in as well and other boys have stepped it up. The younger boys are flying as well so it presents an opportunity for other men to get in and make it worth their while.”
And if they do Corrigan hopes Lisbellaw can make it back to an Ulster Final and go one step further and win it.
But he knows that first and foremost they need to perform against Carrickmore.
“The first game is huge for us. The first game last year, we were losing by four and ended up winning. For us the first game is always the hardest because we haven’t played championship hurling in so long.
“If we can get over the line this weekend I have no doubt we can go on in the competition but the first one is massive,” concluded Corrigan.
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