It is ironic that when the GAA headlines in the national newspapers last Sunday and Monday were all to do with the Gaelic Players Association coming under the umbrella of the larger GAA body, and how that new co-existence will be for the betterment of the county player, that the successful club players still have to get out and put on the best displays they can deliver in the height of winter.
On the last Sunday in November the players from Charlestown and Corofin will put on their Speedos, sorry, football shorts and do the best they can to try to win the Connacht championship.
Corofin’s experienced selector Paul McGettigan is content that the extra week gained due to last week’s postponement allowed some niggling injuries to be put to bed.
“We have had a few weeks to prepare now for this challenge, and while we will be without some top quality players like Kieran Fitzgerald, Tomás Costello and Michael Comer, while Alan O’Donovan is only on the way back from injury, we have had time to plan accordingly.”
McGettigan, who is a very positive thinker by nature, suggests the extent of the club’s injuries all season has allowed the likes of Gary Sice, Alan Burke and Kieran McGrath to prove their flexibility and adaptability by interchanging as forwards and defenders on a regular basis.
“My firm belief is that a good footballer can play anywhere. And thankfully we have a lot of good players who are extremely versatile.
“We have needed that all year to get to this stage and we will need it again on Sunday. We have prepared assiduously and the hard work is done.
“Martin McNamara [team coach} has done fantastic work with the lads this season and we are hopeful that on Sunday we will give a good account of ourselves and do enough to edge out a victory. With conditions as they are, it will be a tough game for both sides, but I believe that we have enough quality on our panel to travel down to Charlestown and win.”
