O’Leary preaching caution as Crokes focus on task in hand

AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SFC SEMI-FINAL

O’Leary, however, points out that the team itself isn’t looking past Ballymun Kickhams this weekend in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“The players have only one team on their minds right now and it’s on Ballymun and the huge challenge that they pose,” affirms O’Leary.

“Ballymun are a very strong side and they play a running game which we are going to have to cope with. They appear to play a very tactical game and they are not an easy side to break down.

“Any side that reaches this stage of a competition has to be a good side and we have found that at this time of the year, all teams are well prepared and difficult to beat and there is no such thing as certainties.

“You will get nothing soft and as the hurling has proved, teams from the so-called stronger counties do not always win so we are very wary of Ballymun because any side that comes out of Dublin and gets through the minefield that is the Leinster Club, have to be a very good side. “

O’Leary acknowledges that at the top level, opponents must be studied when possible.

“The modern game demands that you have to study opposition and see where their strengths and weaknesses are.

“But having said that the main emphasis has to be on our own game and performing to the best of our ability because we know when we play as we can, we are difficult to beat.

“We’re a team that believe in ourselves and in our own ability but knowing how our opponents play and what we are likely to face on the day is also important. That is where our management team of Noel (O’Leary), Vince (Casey) and Malachy (Walsh) do their homework”

And a warning to Ballymun — Crokes are stronger this year than last, believes O’Leary: “The return of Michael Moloney and Shane Doolan from London has strengthened our hand considerably in defence, while young Gavin O’Shea has been a big addition up front.

“Chris Brady is a year older and stronger and he has been hitting the net pretty regularly. We have more options and you need a strong squad this time of the year, when you can pick up injuries on heavy pitches.”

O’Leary pays tribute to the “fresh voices” in the dressing room of Vince Casey and Noel O’Leary.

“Fair play to them for coming on board, because it’s not an easy task to take over a team that had lost an All-Ireland Club semi-final.

“They have done very well but they felt that Donie Buckley would improve us as a team and I think he has. He simplifies everything and reminds us of some of the basics and we get good advice from Donie, which is sometimes needed.

“It really has been about fine-tuning aspects of our game. He takes a couple of sessions and while he is not around on game day I think his influence is seen in the way we play.”

Picture: SPORTSFILE