O Fionnagain wants to enjoy it more the second time around

TOM GANNON

Brughach O Fionnagain has been a staple of the Wolfe Tones side for quite some time now and this week he will contest his second Meath SFC decider.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle, O Fionnagain explained how there is great character in the Wolfe Tones dressing room and that the side actually thrives under the underdog status.

“It’s fantastic to be back again in a senior final. On a personal level, I’ve had my injury issues during the year, just as we have had throughout the whole team really," said O Fionnagain.

"From the outside, there was comments from people after our Gaeil Colmcille game that they didn’t see any county finalists in that encounter. We don’t worry too much about that sort of stuff and we kind of thrive off that underdog status. We just get on with it really. In fairness we have a great dressing room in that regard."

Its no secret that Wolfe Tones have had a core group of players that have served them extremely well over the last decade and beyond. Players like Shane Glynn, Cian Ward, Alan Callaghan, Thomas and Niall O'Reilly and Stephen Sheppard have given many years of fantastic service to their beloved Tones and O Fionnagain credits that service to the success that the side have had over the years.

“We have a core group of lads that have been at this for quite some time. Lads like Glynner, Wardy and Shep have given so much to the club. There’s lads my age like Niall and Thomas (O’Reilly) who have been equally as dedicated.

"We seem to be able to add two or three lads to that every year. We have lost lads as well but we keep things ticking over and I think one of our greatest assets is our battling spirit. We have piano players who are able to dictate the game and win games, then we have piano carriers like myself who just keep the head down and work hard.”

Wolfe Tones’ semi-final win over Skryne was filled with drama, excitement and intensity. O Fionnagain reflected on the encounter explaining how, in an encounter like that, it was easier for him to be involved on the pitch and not up in the stands.

“Sometimes it is probably easier to be actually playing the match. I wouldn’t of fancied sitting on the sideline or up in the stands watching our semi final as a Tones supporter or a Skryne supporter because your heart would be in your mouth," said O Fionnagain.

"I thought we had it won and I suppose that can seep into a team at times without even meaning to. Fair play to Skryne, they came at us when they were six points down and they kept chipping away at our lead.

"When normal time finished it nearly felt like a loss after we had thrown away that advantage. We have strong characters in the dressing room who recognised that we still had a chance and that we had to take it.

"We have a strong panel and it’s a testament to the lads that came off the bench that we managed to get over the line.”

Its an old cliché but O Fionnagain is certainly a subscriber to the belief that your preparation for a game should not change just because it is a big occasion. He is however looking forward to the buzz and atmosphere created around the area in the lead up to the final.

“In terms of preparation, nothing really changes and you have to treat it like its any other game. We have a small little community in Wolfe Tones so you do enjoy the buzz around the area in the lead up. It brings great joy and happiness to the area.

"Personally it is my second final so I am going to try and soak it in a bit more and enjoy the whole build up to it.”

O Fionnagain recognises that Dunshaughlin are a top side who have beaten some of the best sides in the county, but he also believes that his teammates “battling spirit” gives him a lot of confidence heading into the major contest.

“I would be quite confident heading into the final. Dunshaughlin have beaten a lot of the top teams. We know they are very good but I think we have that battling quality that gives us a chance in any game we play and this one will be no different.”