DERRY and Fermanagh head into Sunday’s All-Ireland junior final replay in Clones with contrasting emotions – but with equal determination to make things count second time around.
Derry looked to be in full control of the drawn game at Croke Park, leading by nine points with the game in its final quarter, but Fermanagh fought their way back into it and a Sharon Murphy penalty with 48 seconds left on the clock rescued a draw for the Ulster champions.
Dwelling on disappointment was not an option for Derry because as captain Cait Glass says, Fermanagh could have won the game such was the strength of their finish.
“When the final whistle blew there was so many mixed emotions, and while disappointment was definitely one of them, there was also relief and contentment to counteract it.
“We could wallow in pity and look at it as an opportunity missed but that wouldn’t do us
any good,” said the
corner-back.
“When you look back on the game you see that it could have went the other way, especially towards the end, so you have to approach it in a practical and positive way, and see it as an opportunity that is still very much up for grabs. We have taken a lot of positives from the game and also learned great deal from mistakes too.”
Fermanagh captain Aine McGovern, meanwhile, knows they might not get as lucky this time around if they don’t perform again.
“We know we are very lucky to get a second bite of the cherry and we are happy to have that as we know as a team we did not perform,” she said.
“We just did not show up on the day but these things will happen. I am not taking away from Derry’s performance as they were the better team on the day but for us to win on Sunday we have to up our game for the whole match not just the last quarter of it.
“We are delighted that we fought back to claim a draw the last day out and to be in with another chance.
We know how lucky we
are to be still in with a chance of winning an
All-Ireland.”
