Relief and ecstasy for Ballinamore captain after Leitrim championship win

It was a mix of relief and ecstasy for Ballinamore Sean O’Heslin captain Brian Banks as the South Leitrim men lifted the Fenagh Cup in Sunday’s replay against Fenagh St Cailins.

Sunday’s game marked Ballinamore's fifth final match in three years, with them having to suffer replay defeat to Mohill in 2024, defeat to Leitrim Gaels last year, and now a replay against Fenagh.

He recalls being out on the field last year after the final and realising that they would need to wait another year to have another bite at the cherry.

“A person from Ballinamore just came over and shook my hand and said, ‘Hard luck,’ and he said, ‘Third time lucky,’ and I only kind of registered it then, like, we have to go again,” he recalls.

But twelve months on, they are county champions, and the experience of the last number of finals played an important role for them heading into the replay.

“When you do play a replay, if you come out with the exact same game again, they know that already, the other team knows that, and all they have to do is defend the same way again and kick a few more points. Whereas when you change it up, then it's completely different.”

Ballinamore's squad depth proved crucial, with players capable of adapting to different positions and roles. That flexibility was illustrated by the decision to move 19-year-old Mark Aherne into goal in place of the injured Darren Maxwell, despite Aherne never having played there before.

“When you make changes between the games, you also know that it's not going to affect the team in a negative way because the guys coming in are just as good. Maybe tactically it's going to work out a bit better the next day, and that's what happened.”

Banks praised Leitrim County Board for their restructuring of the Senior championship over the last two years, shrinking the number of teams involved and making a more competitive tournament.

“It's a very hard championship to win,” he said, adding, “It's important to play every game as if it's like a final. Like, anyone who gets to the semifinals or quarterfinals gets through to that point. It's all serious quality stuff as well.”

Despite the comfortable finish for Ballinamore in the end, it was a thrilling series of games between the neighbouring teams.

“There's a big rivalry, like there is. There's no doubt about the rivalry between the two clubs, but there's a respect,” said Banks.

This year marked Fenagh’s first trip to a county final since the early 2000s, with the team suffering a string of heartbreaking semi-final defeats in recent years.

“They'll be back; that Fenagh team is strong. It took us three goes this time to win it, but they'll be back for a second next year.”