Oulart-the-Ballagh keep their eyes on the prize

THERE was massive delight in the villages of Oulart and The Ballagh yesterday, as their Leinster club win over Kilkenny champions James Stephens at Nowlan Park on Sunday was celebrated with gusto.

Among the players, however, things were much more restrained, with a game against Laois champions Clough/Ballacolla on Sunday.

Not that captain Keith Rossiter was complaining.

He admitted: “When you beat a Kilkenny team it has to be a good day, but we have to mind ourselves, celebrate in a different kind of way. We just enjoyed it within ourselves with no drink or anything like that. We struggled against Raharney, the Westmeath champions, last year. There was only three points in it at the end. You can’t take anyone for granted at this level. They won their own county title on merit and in style so they’re going to be good.”

How many times have we seen a team raise their game hugely one day to overcome a big-name team, only to struggle a week later against a side with a lesser reputation? “That can be a problem,” Rossiter admitted, “but I think what’s going to help us is that it’s on in Wexford Park. If we had to travel to Portlaoise or somewhere like that it would be harder, it would put us under even more pressure.”

What of the opposite argument, however, that because it’s a home game this week it should be easier? All leading to a potential fall, surely? “Yes, you could look at it like that, but Liam (Dunne, manager) has us too well drilled. There is no complacency. You don’t win games on paper, we know that. Liam will have us right – we learn from the Kilkenny teams, they go out, try to get on top, then try to stay on top. This is another game, another 60 minutes — if we were playing Kilkenny themselves that’s how we’d approach it, the same attitude.”

While Oulart are a well-balanced team overall, their defence – even with a late change — was particularly strong against James Stephens, Keith himself at full-back with another county star, Darren Stamp, outside him on the 40. “We have a good unit. Paul Roche was out but Andrew Kavanagh slotted in and did a good job though he’s not a regular in that position at all. Barry Kehoe and Larry Prendergast were outstanding and the rest of the backs also played their part while Darren Stamp did very well at centre-back. Eoin Larkin was their dangerman, that’s how we felt going into it. It mightn’t be fair on the other five forwards, but he is the main man for them and has been all year. We knew if we could hold him we’d be in with a very good chance.”

They held him to two points from play, stopped him on several occasions with last-ditch flicks and tackles, including two by Keith himself. All gone to waste, however, if they’re not right for this game on Sunday. “We’re one step closer to getting back to where we were last year (beaten in Leinster final), that’s all. Never look too far ahead, that’s what Liam has been drilling into us — we’ll be treating the Laois champions very seriously.”