Derrygonnelly manager Martin Greene feels that Erne Gaels lack of championship final experience will not necessarily be a disadvantage for the Belleek men when the sides meet in Sunday for the New York Cup.
Indeed, Greene points to his own club’s experience back in 1995, a day the now manager clinched his first senior championship medal as part of the Harps squad that won the title for the first time, as testament to this.
“We were in a similar situation in ‘95 where we hadn’t been in a final in a long time and you sometimes find that the hunger and eagerness that comes with that is better than experience. You go into the game desperate to do well for your club and your village, to do something that hasn’t been done in a long time, or in our case back then, ever. 
“We fully expect Belleek to be a tough, tough challenge and we will have to match the hunger that they will bring to the table and meet the challenge head on,” said Greene.
While Belleek are looking to secure a first title since 1981, Greene says that his Harps team also have a big incentive going into the game. If last year was all about a league and championship double for Derrygonnelly, the focus this time around is on winning back to back championships for the first time.
“That’s the target, back to back titles, that’s what we are striving for but, as I’ve said, we have to show the hunger and we have to replicate what we did last year to put it up to Belleek. They have been the best team in the county this year, they are strong in every position and they have a good system of play. We are under no illusions about the size of the task that’s facing us but back to back is something that we are hungry to achieve,” stated Greene.
This Sunday will see Greene involved in his sixth county final, his second as a manager, and while he feels that the experience he gained on the line last year in his first final as a manager should stand to him, he stresses that it is mostly down to the players once they cross the white line.
“It helps that I have that experience of championship final day as a manager in the bank but every game is different and Sunday will be a different game and a different challenge. What happens on the day is up to the players, I can only do so much on the line,” he said.
And the Harps manager is expecting a tough, physical contest at Brewster Park.
“It will be very interesting as there is a championship on the line, it’s a derby match and you expect things to be tough when you get to a final.
“Any day we go out to play Belleek it is always a physical encounter. They are a big physical team, they have physicality all over the pitch with the Lyons’, Mullins, Ryder and these boys but we are a big strong team as well,” commented Greene. 
The Harps boss has seen his side progress to the final on the back of two strong second half performances and although he is looking for a 60 minute display from his side on Sunday, he is not bothered as long as they can get across the line.
“It seems like it has taken us a while to get going but as long as we are on the end of the right result after 60 minutes I’m not too worried.     Obviously, we are looking to put a 60 minute performance in but as long as the boys work and do the best that they can then I will be happy at the end of the day,” he said.