Sweeney relieved to be staying home

CONNACHT SFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY:

Given that Leitrim enjoyed home advantage last Sunday, expectation was that Ruislip would play host to the replay.

Instead, Dr Hyde Park was the chosen venue with Connacht Council secretary John Prenty explaining London play their first championship match at home each year and are required to travel for all remaining games.

“If we had to go to Ruislip it wouldn’t be ideal,” said Sweeney. “I’m sure London feel slightly aggrieved, but if you were to ask their manager and players, I’m sure it is just another hurdle that they are willing to go over. If it means they get to a Connacht final, they will have no issue coming to Hyde Park.

“Obviously it is handier for us rather than going to Ruislip, but it is a neutral venue. I’d say there are very few of our side that have played in Hyde Park.”

Returning to last Sunday and Sweeney was full of praise for the manner in which his colleagues responded to London’s second goal.

“There is some great characters in our camp. We had our incidences before that game which were well documented and if anything, it has pulled the group closer, and I would like to think that we are never beaten.”

“We weren’t expecting them to hit the second goal; we were hoping to keep them to one. It was just a case of putting the head down after they got that and trying to claw it back.”

Two late points, one courtesy of Sweeney, rescued the home side and it was a case of “big time relief” at the end.

“We let in a sloppy goal and our backs were against the wall. We had a hill to climb and very little time to climb it. It was coming very close to full-time so it was massive relief at the final whistle.”

Despite the courage shown late on to force a replay, manager Barney Breen was none too pleased with his teams overall performance.

“I wouldn’t even like to tot up our wide count. Our shooting at some stages was a bit farcical I felt. There was some good scores taken, but we have a lot of room for improvement.

“We were a bit defensive minded as well and tried to close it out when we got a few points ahead. We had a lead and we let them in for that second goal instead of closing out the game. But look, at least we have a chance to iron them issues out next Sunday.”

Leitrim enter the replay as marginal favourites, but the Glencar Manorhamilton native is expecting another stiff examination.

“Some people were questioning would they have the heart, would they have the pride in the crest when they’re not all from London initially, but I think it was evident that they have massive pride in playing for London.

“This game will be even tougher than last week, but hopefully we can put the shoulder to the wheel and get to a Connacht final. We knew how physical they would be, we wouldn’t be the biggest guys in the world, but I would like to think we coped well.

“We expect them to be even more physical this time. They’ll play to their strengths and we’ll play to ours and it’s just a matter of who comes out on top.”