Castlebar Mitchels try to overpower Rangers

READY AND WAITING Neil Douglas is pictured in Castlebar last week ahead of Mitchels’ All-Ireland SFC club semi-final against Crossmaglen Rangers. Pic: Conor McKeown

Mike Finnerty

CASTLEBAR Mitchels joint manager Declan O’Reilly believes that his team’s experience of playing in an All-Ireland club semi-final two years ago will stand to them against Crossmaglen Rangers next Saturday evening.
Twelve weeks after capturing the Connacht club crown, Mitchels take on the six-time All-Ireland club winners at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan at 6.15pm.
O’Reilly (who is joint manager along with Declan Shaw) is hoping that the lessons learned from Castlebar’s run to the 2014 All-Ireland club final will stand them in good stead.
“I got a sense of that a few hours after the Connacht club final, lads were talking about learning from being here before. They’re delighted to get a second chance at it again, and they’ve really knuckled down and worked hard to get ready for next weekend.
“We’ll be working hard, looking to cut down on the unforced errors and the turnovers, and everybody knows that we’ll run the bench. We like to freshen things up.”
Mitchels are reporting no injury concerns ahead of Saturday evening’s floodlit clash.
Neil Douglas has recovered from a bout of tonsilitis, SeΡnie Conlon’s elbow injury is healing nicely, and Paddy Durcan also resumed training last month after a knee operation before Christmas. Members of Castlebar’s management team travelled to Armagh to watch Crossmaglen win their eleventh Ulster club title (after extra-time) against Scotstown at the end of November.
O’Reilly admits that they couldn’t but be impressed.
“They’re not bad!” he laughed. “Ah no, look they’re a fine side, they’re seasoned, hardened campaigners and they are the market leaders really in club football over the last twenty years. “That Ulster club final just confirmed what we knew already; they’re well-organised, very committed, have a great loyalty to their club, and have a serious record of winning championship matches. We know what we’re up against.”