‘The job is not finished yet ’- The Harps captain Padraic Dunne ahead of SHC Final

Padraic Dunne says The Harps are determined to make the most of a rare opportunity when they take on Camross in Sunday’s Laois Senior Hurling Championship final at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.

The Cullohill-Durrow side will appear in their first senior county final since 1998, when they lost out to Portlaoise, with the current squad preparing for an occasion that none of the players who started their semi-final victory over Clough/Ballacolla last weekend have previously experienced at senior level.

Reaching the decider has generated huge enthusiasm throughout the parish, but captain Dunne knows that the achievement will mean little unless they can finish the job against a Camross side that has already beaten them twice this year.

“The buzz around Cullohill and Durrow at the moment there since Sunday has been great. The job is most certainly not finished yet. We have less than two weeks now to prepare for Camross, which will be an even tougher task again. They've beaten us twice already this year, in the league final and in the championship, so we're looking forward to the challenge and it's up to us to get to their level,” Dunne said.

The Harps have made steady progress throughout the campaign by concentrating on each assignment as it arrives, rather than allowing the prospect of a county final to distract them from the immediate challenge.

That approach has carried them through to the biggest day on the Laois hurling calendar, with Dunne insisting the same mentality will remain in place as they prepare for Sunday, October 18.

“I would say one game at a time. At the end of the day, we do want to get over the line on the 18th of October, but definitely the mindset this year has been one game at a time, one week at a time, one training at a time and just keep going, next game, next game. We don't really look any further than that,” Dunne explained.

The semi-final against Clough/Ballacolla proved a stern examination of their credentials, with the defending champions mounting a strong challenge after The Harps established an early advantage.

Dunne admitted the closing stages were tense, with his side needing to withstand a determined comeback before finally securing their place in the decider.

“When the final whistle went, it was definitely a sense of relief; that would be one thing. We probably had a better start than Clough/Ballacolla, but they're a great team; they've been the team we've been trying to catch for a long time. We knew they were going to come back and they did; they showed that. It took us to the 64th minute for us to get over the line and a bit of luck on our side as well. On another day, it could have been their day, but on Sunday it was our day and I'm sure, to God, they'll be back again to come at us again next year,” Dunne said.

The youthful nature of the squad has been one of the defining features of The Harps' run to the final. Their progress has also reflected the work being carried out across the club, with Dunne highlighting the contribution of those developing the next generation of hurlers.

“If you look at our team at the moment, it's a very young team. I was told and it’s fairly easy to figure out, but no one who started on Sunday was even born when The Harps were last in the county final, so it is a young panel. The hurlers that are coming through there are unbelievable. Credit to the coaches and the work that goes on behind the scenes in the club.

“The people in the club, they just love it. They would do anything for the players and they just want to see the team grow. Hopefully we can give something back to them now on the 18th of October,” he added.

Eoin Delaney was among those who caught the eye in the semi-final, hitting an outstanding 3-1 against Clough/Ballacolla. However, Dunne believes the performance was another example of the depth of talent available rather than a one-off contribution.

“He's one of many of those guys that are just hurling unbelievably. Again, you go down to the hurling field there any evening and there's parents, mentors, coaches, anything you want to call them, down there with young lads and just trying to push the thing on. Like that, Eoin got a bit of luck, he did well. The next day it could be someone else and not Eoin. We have lads who didn't get any game time there at the weekend who are training, and they're hurling brilliantly and it could be a different lad the next day. It's just brilliant to see the likes of Eoin and many of the other lads this year just shine through,” Dunne said.

There has been further cause for encouragement at the club this year, with The Harps' intermediate team also reaching a county final before losing to Slieve Bloom.

For Dunne, leading the senior side into the biggest match of the season has been a hugely rewarding experience, and one he hopes will continue beyond Sunday.

“It's brilliant. I can't actually describe the feeling. I'm thoroughly enjoying this journey that we've been on this year myself. I don't want it to end. The training and everything that goes with it, the buzz is amazing. It's just great to be a part of it. Great to be able to say that I can lead them boys, into the 18th of October. It's a great privilege and I'm just looking forward to it,” the captain said.

The influence of manager Ken Hogan, the former Tipperary goalkeeper, and his backroom team has also been central to their development. Dunne believes the belief instilled in the group has helped them take the next step.

“I'd say the two big things would probably be: it's a privilege to play for your club and the mentality. The mentality that they've brought in to try to break us down and push us to go that bit further. It's something I think that maybe got us over the line on Sunday. Just that belief that we can do it and maybe it was something that was missing before. Ken, Brian, Dylan, Conor, Noel and all the team this year have been excellent. There's not much more we could ask for from them. It's on the players now to get this thing over the line,” Dunne said.

Camross, who have won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup 27 times, represent the final obstacle. Having lost to them in both the league final and the Championship earlier this year, The Harps understand the scale of the task ahead.

Dunne, though, believes his players are ready to embrace the challenge and push themselves to a level they have not previously reached.

“Clough/Ballacolla would be the team that would have gotten over the line in the last few years, with Camross just behind them. We know exactly what we're going to be up against and it's up to us to get to that level. They've already proved this year with that fact that they have beaten us and they can beat us. We definitely would have to go to uncharted territory to get over the line, but we're willing to go there,” Dunne concluded.