Harps relishing ‘a massive challenge’ against Kilcoo - Jones

Derrygonnelly’s last taste of Ulster ended in a heavy final defeat to Sunday’s opponents in 2021 with the Magpies having also reached last year’s decider which they lost to Glen and Jones says that the challenge for the Harps is to see if they can close the gap from that loss two years ago.

“The Ulster Club is a brilliant competition. There are no easy games in it and we have been drawn in the preliminary round against probably the favourites for Ulster so we understand the task ahead of us, but it is nice to be there. We’ve got back down to training this week and the full focus is on this Sunday’s game,” said Jones.

And the experienced Jones is expecting a huge test.

“We know that Kilcoo are a massive challenge. They would have been disappointed to lose out to Glen last year in the final but they came through the Down championship pretty convincingly.

“The last time we met them we were beaten fair and square, we weren’t at the level that Kilcoo were at. I think Kilcoo haven’t dropped off from that Ulster final so the challenge will be to see if we can close the gap because we were beaten convincingly that day. We realise the task ahead of us but it is one that the boys are relishing,” he added.

In terms of what type of game he is expecting, Jones feels it will be a typical Ulster tussle and he believes that conditions could also play a part.

“Kilcoo can play lots of different styles. They probably had games in Down were they have had to dog it out and then they have had other games were they have gone out and blown the opposition away. Their championship final against Burren they ended up winning that game by doubles scores and Burren are no bad team. The game will take on a life of its own and a lot sometimes depends on the weather and conditions on the day. I think though that it is going to be a typical Ulster game, it will be fast, physical, hard hitting and lots of intensity.”

The Harps will be hoping to take advantage of the fact that the game is being played at Brewster Park, a ground they have been accustomed to winning at over the last decade.

“We have played a lot in Brewster Park over the last few years so it is home venue in that sense for us and we will be hoping that there will be a massive support there for us. Obviously there will be people from Derrygonnelly but hopefully Fermanagh people will be out supporting us as well and it is going to need it all to put it up to Kilcoo and get the result we are looking for,” he said.

And Jones is also hoping that a competitive Fermanagh championship will benefit Derrygonnelly going into Sunday’s encounter.

“I would be hoping that will be definitely helping us. There were no easy games this year in the Fermanagh championship from our point of view, and obviously playing the final for the most part with 14 men was a big task but hopefully all that will stand to us.

“At the same time, no disrespect to any of the teams in Fermanagh, but Kilcoo will be a step up and some of the things that we maybe did poorly in the championship final we will need to make sure they don’t happen or else Kilcoo will punish us hard,” he commented.

The key for the Harps is to stay in touch with Kilcoo and to limit them when they have a purple patch as Jones knows from experience that the Down outfit can quickly put a game out of reach.

“The last day we played Kilcoo we let the game get away from us too early. They got a massive lead coming into half time and at the start of the second half we were left chasing and against really good opposition you can’t let the lead be stretched out too much.

“We are going to go out and try and impose our game but at that level you have to make sure that you don’t switch off at any moment.

“Kilcoo, once they have their purple patch no matter who they are playing, they can hit a team for lots of scores over a short space of time and can stretch out that gap so we need to make sure we are always switched on and every play matters,” he concluded.