Derrygonnelly Harps will be aiming to claim a sixth successive New York Cup in a row on Sunday evening when they face Ederney in the final at Brewster Park.
Manager Sean Flanagan, though, says that the six in a row is not something that has come into their minds, it is simply about taking it one game at a time, and seeing where it takes them.
He said: “It drives players and management on to add to the titles, but the six in a row doesn’t come into it at all.
“It is about going out and performing every year and trying to win the championship. You can just take it game by game.
“This year, we prepared for a good challenge against Roslea and that’s the way it turned out, and the same against Kinawley.
“We’ll now prepare as best as we can for the final against Ederney, and see where it takes us,” he added.
There can be no denying, though, that this has been a glorious period for the club, and Flanagan acknowledged that it is important to make hay while the sun shines.
He stressed that the hunger is still there among the players to push on for more.
“This group has been about now for a while now, and the ability is there, and the hunger is still there in them, and they want to succeed.
“It is a good group at the minute, and it is important to take it when it is there.
“I suppose at the start of every year, your aim is to get to a county final – that’s one of the main objectives of the team. Every year is different, but once you get over a championship win you knuckle down.
“This year in particular has been different, because of the shortened season, but the aim was still to get the final, and we are glad to be in it,” he commented.
Indeed, the Harps are showing no sign of slipping up just yet, with a number of younger players pushing on the more experienced players within the squad.
“There have been some good lads coming through this past couple of years, and it will still take a wee bit of time for them to develop, but you have to freshen things up and keep competition for places.
“That’s what’s happening at the minute. The more seasoned lads know that there are younger fellas chomping at the bit to get their chance, so they have to keep performing,” said Flanagan.
On the whole, though, this is an experienced Derrygonnelly team that knows how to win championship games, and Flanagan hopes that experience will stand to it.
“You have to build that experience, and this group of players have played in some tough games and that experience stands to them in tight games.
“You can train all you want, but you can’t train that experience into boys. That experience stands to them and, hopefully, it will stand to them in the future,” he said.
Ederney will provide the opposition in the final for the second time in three years and Flanagan is under no illusion that his side will face a big test.
“It will be a huge challenge. I have watched their couple of championship games and the level of intensity that they have brought to it has been very impressive.
“We beat them in Dromore in a league game, but Ederney had a lot of players out that night, but in the championship games they have played they have been very good.
“They have a number of really dangerous forwards, and they have players that come late to support them, so that is something that we will have to be ready for. It is going to be a big test,” he added
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here