All-Ireland success beckons for Mitchels

By Aiden Henry

PREPARING for an All-Ireland final is always very special. No one knows that better than Carnacon senior ladies senior team manager Beatrice Casey.

Having guided the Carnacon senior team to unbelievable success for almost a quarter of a century – they won 22 county senior championship titles, 16 Connacht titles, and were involved in nine All-Ireland senior club finals, winning six – there is no one better to talk about what’s going on in the Castlebar Mitchels camp as they prepare for the All-Ireland club intermediate final against St. Sylvester’s, Dublin, in Ballinasloe next Sunday.

"It is now 20 years since we won our first All-Ireland senior club final," she recalled. "In all we contested nine All-Ireland finals. Each and every one of them was very special for many different reasons. But above all it was the most special times in the life of all the Carnacon players, who were lucky enough to be involved with a group preparing for the highest accolade in Gaelic football, an All-Ireland final.

"I have no doubt that each and every player that was involved with us in each of our nine All-Ireland final appearances will have lasting memories of the build-up to each final, the final day itself, and the unreal excitement and buzz it brought to the whole community.

"This, I can tell you, is going to be no different for the Castlebar Mitchels ladies as they make their final preparations for the biggest day in their football history to date."

Beatrice continued: "I am sure they will be looking back on the Castleisland Desmonds game and seeing where they can improve on it for the final. But this lead-up to the final is one where they are trying to find that delicate balance between rest and sharpness. We found this was the case in the build-up to the different finals and it is the same for all managers – you tend to get very paranoid about distractions. For the players, everybody they meet at work or on the street is being positive. Strangers want to shake their hand and wish you well.

"However, I am sure the Mitchels girls will be well grounded, and they will be keeping things as low key as possible. Winning the All-Ireland will be their big focus."

OUTCOME

In terms of predicting the outcome, Beatrice said she believes Mitchels have an great chance of winning.

"If they can reproduce their best form, I would be very confident they will come out on top," she stated. "From an early stage in the Mayo intermediate championship, you could see by their results that they were focused and were the team to beat. As things transpired, they were never troubled in Mayo.

"From the start of the season for Mitchels it was ultimately about winning games and being as competitive as they could be. They are a tight-knit group, and they will fight and battle for each other."

The Carnacon manager said Mitchels put it up to them many times during their glory years, and were well placed as the team to watch in the 2021 Mayo intermediate championship.

"I am not surprised at their great success to date," she added.

The fact that it is a Dublin team Mitchels are playing in the final makes little difference, according to Beatrice - whose Carnacon team beat one Dublin side, Na Fianna, in an All-Ireland senior final.

"Overall, I think Mitchels have a very strong, balanced team and will prove too strong for Sylvester’s. I can see them taking command from an early stage and I believe they will have learned from the semi-final to not let-up until the final whistle.

"To win an All-Ireland you need to put in a quality effort and maintain a proper focus, and you need to believe that the hard work will pay off, and note that champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years spent preparing for it.

"We here in Carnacon would like to wish the Castlebar Mitchels team and management every success next Sunday and we will all be rooting for Mitchels. They are a very good side and if they stay focused and never give up they deserve to win the All-Ireland."

Beatrice concluded: "When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go."