Clann’s greatest strength is their resilience

Joe Fallon eats, sleeps and drinks Clann na nGael. One of the most popular and well-liked characters around Johnstown, he has been at the coalface of the club’s increased share price on the Roscommon LGFA stock market.

On Saturday, Clann will contest their sixth senior final in seven seasons. Fallon has been part of the management teams for all of them — as manager in 2018 and 2019 against a Kilbride team at the height of their powers, as selector under Finbar Egan in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and this year, as a selector once more, under Mark Cunningham.

“I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think I had something to offer. You could say I’m part of the furniture at this stage,” he laughed when pressed on his involvement.

Indeed, Joe is often the life and soul of the party, but he takes his football seriously. And there’s nothing to focus the mind than a local derby against St. Brigid’s when there’s silverware on the line.

“You’d have to say that Brigid’s are the favourites. They topped their group. We have the experience of county final day, but it’s all about Saturday now. I’ve been involved in enough county finals, as a player and a manager, to know these matches take on a life of their own. There are a lot of variables at play and you have to get them right on the day,” he pointed out.

Mark Cunningham, who was in charge of Kinawley’s successful six-in-a-row bid in Fermanagh last season, has taken up the baton from Finbar Egan. Alongside club stalwart Denis Gavin and Fallon, the Clann ship has explored fresh waters in 2024.

“They’ve obviously brought a different approach. Mark would have tapped into the Ulster style of play — defending in packs and attacking at speed. Denis (Gavin) has brought a wealth of experience. He’s very good with defenders. A team need to be freshened up every now and then, and that’s what the boys have done,” felt Fallon.

But the new manager would have quickly found out that a 9-13 to 5-6 reversal against Saturday’s opponents in the group stages of the competition wouldn’t have gone down well with the locals, although Fallon argues that Clann will be a more stronger, compact unit this weekend.

“We’re in a way better place than we were that day. Jenny (Higgins) played her first full game in the semi-final against St. Dominic’s. Orla O’Neill is back. There’s more fluidity to the team now and we have that bit of experience coming back. It’s unbelievable to have them back.”

Indeed Clann’s results since that chastening experience, culminating in a comfortable 3-10 to 2-5 triumph against St. Dominic’s in the semi-final — a team they drew with in the opening round — hammers home a point that Fallon has always accentuated about this group of players.

“They’re a very resilient group of girls. I’ll stand over that. They had their bad days against Kilbride and Boyle last year. But they keep bouncing back. It’s probably something they don’t get enough credit for.

“It wasn’t nice last year after the county final. But they just dusted themselves down and the girls deserve huge credit for that. Even the defeat against St. Brigid’s a few weeks ago hurt, but the girls just went at it again. I believe that we’re stronger now. I would say that the team’s greatest strength is their resilience,” he pointed out.

The influx of youth from a very competitive junior team has also buttressed Clann’s strength-in-depth. Caitlin Gavin, Ava Gavin and Hope Glynn have made the step-up from last year’s junior team that reached the county semi-final. It’s something Fallon feels has nourished the competition for places.

“Our younger players have gained a lot of exposure to adult football through our junior set-up. People might say it’s only junior but there are intercounty players at that level. Our girls came up against Ellen Irwin (Roscommon vice-captain) this year when they played Faithleach’s. It gives them an understanding of the serious work required and what’s coming down the track when they make the step-up to senior.”

Given the way St. Brigid’s have swept all before them on their way to the final, it appears that they have made huge strides in a short space of time. But Fallon, with his well-researched local knowledge, always knew that the neighbours down the N61 were, potentially, a rising force.

“Laura (Harrison) and Eddie (Nestor) have done huge work with them this year. I recall St. Brigid’s starting off very well last year, reaching the league final. They were leading us at half time, and we had to bring on Jenny (Higgins) before she went to Australia to win the game.

“Two years earlier, they should have beaten Kilbride in a semi-final. I’ve been expecting this sort of run from Brigid’s because they’ve always given us good games. In Kiltoom, two years ago, they went eight points ahead of us in a championship game. We had to dig deep to reel them in and win it.

“Lucy Sheffield, Alison Nugent, Keeley Sammon, a lot of those Brigid’s players have played for the county and in Connacht finals. So I can’t see them being overawed by the occasion. But a lot of our girls know what a county final entails. Hopefully, it will count for something.

“The great thing about sport is that it can be so unpredictable, otherwise it would be very boring. Clann and Brigid’s matches tend to be different. Form has never counted for much. We know that we’re the underdogs. We’re not particularly happy about that but we’re as full strength as we can be at the moment. If we play well and St. Brigid’s play well, I can’t see a lot in it.

“It’s always intense against Brigid’s, no matter what the grade is. I’m expecting that there will be a huge crowd at the game. It’s a county final, it’s against our neighbours. The players will be up for it and I’m sure it will be the same for both sets of supporters,” he concluded.

Joe Fallon wouldn’t have it any other way.