Courtney: The smile is back on Monaghan faces

MONAGHAN captain Sharon Courtney says the reason she and her teammates have made it to tomorrow’s Ladies Football Senior All-Ireland final against Cork is because they’ve learned how to play with a smile on their faces again.

This Monaghan team has always had the potential to do great things, but since losing the 2008 final to Cork they’ve underachieved.

According to Courtney that’s because representing their county became a chore rather than an honour, but this year they’ve re-found the zest that has been lacking for the past couple of years.

“In the past it hasn’t always clicked with us,” admitted the Monaghan captain.

“We’ve always had the players who were good enough to play the sort of football we’re producing now, but it just didn’t happen for us. I think the biggest difference is that we’re all enjoying it this year. A new management team has come in and while we’re doing the hard training we’re also allowed to have the craic as well.

“That’s the biggest difference and all through the year we’ve been eagerly awaiting the next training session and the next match whereas in other years there were times we couldn’t wait for it to be over. I shouldn’t really say that, but that’s the truth unfortunately. This year we’ve trained harder than ever but loved every minute of it and every single player has given their all. Hopefully now we can justify all that hard work with a win on Sunday.”

She doesn’t need to be told that will be no easy task. The memory of their heavy defeat to the Rebelettes three years ago is still a raw one, and she knows Monaghan will have to maximise their potential if they’re to make amends.

“Everyone is saying Cork are favourites. I don’t know if that’s going on this year’s performance or on their history over the last number of years. I don’t think favourites or underdog tags make much of a difference really though. It’s going to be a 50-50 match and whoever wants it more will win it.

“They’re definitely very strong opponents though. They’ve raised the level of Ladies football in the country and it’s been up to everyone else to reach that level.

“I think teams are starting to get closer to them but we know it’s going to be a really tough match because they’re good all over the field. They have a strong 15 and even their subs that came on in the semi-final and quarter-final made a big difference for them.

“We’re going to have to take our opportunities and everyone is going to have to play well individually and as a team but I really believe that we can do it this year.”

Speed kills, and the Monaghan tactic tomorrow will be to run at Cork from all areas of the field and use the wide expanses of Croke Park to stretch their defence to breaking point.

“That’s one thing we do have going for us– we have pace all over the field,” says Courtney. “And once our forwards get going they’re very hard to stop.

“We try to make the most of our pace by getting runners bursting onto the ball and working hard off the ball to support whoever is in possession.

“You don’t want your ball-carrier to be isolated, so whenever they make that run the onus is on someone else to support them all the way and give them an outlet or overlap if they need it.

“We’re not the biggest side by any stretch of the imagination so we have to make the most of that speed. Our half-forwards have a good understanding with our full-forward line and they work well off one another.

“A big pitch like Croke Park should hopefully be an advantage to us because of the way we play the game.”