‘They know how to win, and they are winners’ – Billy Fitz

“BE not afraid, I go before you,” begins the refrain of a well-known Christian hymn.

Billy Fitzpatrick is not quoted in scripture, but when it comes to football, his words are sacred.

His biggest piece advice for the Claremorris ladies ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland final could be summarised up by the aforementioned lyrics.

“I said to [my grand-daughter] Alana ‘this is another game in Claremorris’. Like any other game that you play week in week out in Claremorris and don’t allow the pressure to get to you because pressure can be a killer,” says the well-known ex-Garrymore footballer.

Having watched many of them throughout their underage careers, Billy Fitz’ is adamant that his adopted club have nothing to fear this Sunday.

As of today (Tuesday) they harbour no major injury concerns.

Mayo Minors Bree Hession, Alana Fitzpatrick and Siomha McNulty will all be in the mix, as well the 16-year-old wunderkind Ashleagh Sammon, who lit up the county final with 1-7.

Though blessed with youth, Claremorris will also lean heavily on the girls with Intermediate football experience such as Marina Cawley – who was excellent in the All-Ireland semi-final – Laura Kelly, Rebecca Kean and Síle Hughes.

They face a mighty foe in Cork’s O’Donavan Rossa, who journey north with a ten-point All-Ireland semi-final win over Wexford champions Gusserane to their name.

Billy Fitz’ says a 60-minute performance is essential; nervy blips from their last two games are to be avoided.

But getting too obsessed with the opposition – who count Cork senior footballer Laura O’Mahony among their ranks – is to be avoided.

He saw that himself as a player, when his beloved Garrymore danced with All-Ireland glory only for another Cork team to steal off with the only girl left in the hall.

“It was that kind of pressure that really beat us. Not that we would have beaten Nemo [Rangers] anyway because they were a very good team. But I think we allowed the pressure of the All-Ireland final to get to us,” recalls Billy.

“Too much thought put into it, our minds too focused on it. I think if you go into it a little bit more relaxed, that’s what I would be saying to the girls and not allow nerves or pressure get to you. I think then, you’re in with a chance of performing.”

Age will be no obstacle either for a squad with ten minors and two Under-16s – who were all part of a team that annihilated all pretenders en route to a Minor ‘A’ county title earlier this year.

“They know how to win, and they are winners and that means an awful lot when it comes to this stage of their development that they don’t fear anything going out playing a game now,” Billy comments.

“Especially there in the All-Ireland semi-final, those young girls, they just went out to enjoy that game and you could see in the way they played that they had that winning mentality.”

In other words: “Be not afraid.”

Claremorris face O'Donavan Rossa from Cork in the currentaccount.ie All-Ireland Junior Club Championship Final in Parnell Park at 2pm today (Sunday December 17).