2016 Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club Championship Semi Final: Keady Lámh Dhearg v St Brigids, Cloughmills, Sunday, Owenbeg 12:45pm
KEADY Lámh Dhearg have been keeping things simple in the build-up to Sunday's Ulster Intermediate Hurling Club Championship semi-final clash at Owenbeg.
Rather than get caught up in worrying about the opposition - Antrim's St Brigids - the Armagh side have been focused solely on their own performance.
"I'm going to be honest. I don't know too much about them," said Keady manager Paul Hughes.
"I know they are Intermediate champions and they won promotion to Division One but we have been concentrating very much on our own game.
"I do know that as Antrim champions they will be a good side, physically strong and with good quality. It will be a test and we are looking forward to it."
Keady beat Liatroim Fontenoys to the Ulster Intermediate title back in 2007 and seven of that side remain in contention for a starting place on Saturday.
The side is also back-boned by a number of Armagh county players, including Conor and John Corvan.
They certainly have the experience and know-how to challenge St Brigids but will be without influential defender, Liam McKee, who is away on honeymoon.
"Liam will be a big miss, it's unfortunate, he had booked his wedding for what he thought was the off season but the rest of the boys are up for it," added Hughes.
"We were very disappointed to lose out to Middletown in the Armagh Senior Championship semi-final back in August but I made it clear to the boys that we could either sit around and lick our wounds for a year, or keeping hurling for another three or four months in the winter.
"It wasn't hard to get them back up again, they grasped the opportunity and we have worked very hard since then."
The defeat by Middletown was quickly put to one side and they then proceeded to beat Cuchullians in a play-off to earn their place in the Ulster draw against St Brigids.
Paul continued: "The boys just want to play. They knew themselves that it would be a long time before the Armagh Championship came around again.
"It was close in the first half, a typical derby encounter against Cuchullians, but we pulled away in the end.
"Make no bones about it, we have prepared well for Sunday's game.
"I'm confident that we have put the work in. The fitness is very good and the hurling level is outstanding.
"We are confident that we are going to go down and give a good account of ourselves and hopefully we can come back on the right side of a good result."
