Belleek came through perhaps the game of the Junior Championship, when they eventually shook off Dorsey.
They came from four down in the final quarter to win by three, which delighted their boss Garreth Thornton. “The main thing is, we won”.
“Championship games are for winning and that’s what we done in the end. We pulled it out of the fire, which was good to see. Fair play to the boys they dug in deep”.
1-4 in the final ten minutes saw last years beaten finalists over the line and Thornton spoke highly of their never-say-die spirit.
“These boys don’t know when they’re beat. They’re proud lads, a proud club. It’s something we probably learned from last year and built on this year which is good to see”.
Back to Back
It’s back to the showpiece for the Laurence O’Toole club. The hurt of losing the 2020 decider, after a replay and extra time, still drives the team.
“I’d be lying if I said we don’t refer to it every now and again. We were six seconds from winning the championship last year and pipped in the end. So, it’s just great to be back in another final”.
They face a determined Crossmaglen side who just about saw off Derrynoose last weekend. The league champions will be “formidable”.
The sides drew in their most recent league meeting. A 0-10 to 0-10 back in August, but that clash will have little bearing on the final.
“Leagues totally different than championship. We’ll put the heads down for two weeks, Cross will be formidable.
They’ll be hot favourites going in with the array of names they have, the experience they have”.
“We’ll get stuck in for the next two weeks and hopefully give a good account of ourselves. The boys have a lot of motivation now for two weeks’ time to try to get over the line this year”.
