Ben Dempsey eyes Jack Delaney Cup glory against Portarlington as Portlaoise captain

Portlaoise captain Ben Dempsey shared his thoughts ahead of their upcoming County Final clash with Portarlington, emphasising that the team’s preparations have been smooth, and they’re focused on keeping things as routine as possible before the big game.

“Preparations are going well, yeah. Look, it's another game, you can't think of it too much as if it's going to be the last or it's going to be the end game. You just have to prepare as normal and keep everything normal,” Dempsey said.

When asked about the responsibility that comes with being captain, Dempsey explained that it doesn’t weigh on him too much, thanks to the experienced players around him in the squad.

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“You go in, and you see the likes of (Paul) Cahillane, (Kieran) Lillis, all these guys who have won so much and they've been there and done that. They're always with you, they're always giving you advice before or after training, games, anything. Everyone helps each other out and there's so many leaders there that you don't really think about that much,” he added.

Dempsey also touched on the importance of youth in the team, highlighting the healthy competition for places, including himself.

“It's a great thing to see and I was only thinking about the other day, someone mentioned to me that seven or eight of the minor team that played in the final a few years back and there's only more lads to come and there's lads itching from the bench to get on as well. In a few years to come, I'm sure they'll all be there as well,” Dempsey noted.

Portlaoise’s playing style has been one to watch this season, with a return to a more traditional brand of football. Dempsey credits the management for the team’s success and unity.

“We're playing a kind of more traditional style of football this year and it's kind of man-on-man kind of stuff. Everyone's taken to it really well and Aidan and the management team that he's brought in have been brilliant, they're so good with everyone that everyone's all in for it and everyone's itching to get on that team as well. The way we're playing, space is being awarded to the forwards. When you give lads space, we have some of the best one-on-one players in the county, and they're showing it at the moment,” he said.

Reflecting on his time with Laois this year, Dempsey spoke about the learning experience and his excitement for the future.

“It's been fantastic, and you're learning the whole time. When I went in this year with Laois, the lads in there were top class as well. They're giving you advice every single day, and it's the same when you go back to Portlaoise here. You just want to grow and keep going, and hopefully we'll get over the line now in two weeks,” he added.

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Dempsey is under no illusions about the challenge Portarlington presents, acknowledging their status as one of the top teams over the past few years. He also reflected on the sting of last year’s narrow defeat to St Joseph’s and the motivation it provides this year.

“Portarlington are a great team and they've probably been the best team in the last four or five years. So, we'll put our heads down now and we'll work hard and hopefully, we can get the better of them. Last year was very frustrating, obviously we knew we left a lot behind us. It’s more so kind of a chip on the shoulder now, coming in this year, that you want to just right the wrongs. You want to completely just get out of that mindset and just get back and just win it this year,” Dempsey said.

Despite dominating throughout the Championship, Portlaoise’s semi-final against O'Dempsey’s was a closer contest than expected, but Dempsey was satisfied with the result, knowing the focus is now fully on the final.

“A semi-final is a semi-final at the end of the day. They're there to be won, but the weather didn't help either. It's always going to happen in these months. But you're happy to get the win there and then head down and work hard for next two weeks for the final then as well,” Dempsey concluded.

Portlaoise and Portarlington will throw-in at 4pm on Sunday, October 13.