Harry Gleeson Adare GAA – “You work hard you dream big and you take your chances.”

Adare manager Harry Gleeson is preparing his side as they attempt to win their first ever senior football title this Sunday when they take on Newcastle West at the Gaelic Grounds. Their only two other appearances in the Senior Football showpiece were in 2002 and 2010 where on both occasions they were beaten by Monaleen with the 2002 final having gone to a replay.

Last season Adare were promoted to the senior ranks and finished runners up in the Munster Club Championship, no doubt Gleeson and his side are proud that they have made it all the way to the decider this season following their return to the big stage.

“We’re over the moon to be in the senior final, considering where we were last year. We probably got a rub of the green along the way and we’ll take it.”

“The last round of matches in the group-stages worked in our favour. I think you grab that type of opportunity when it comes and you move on.”

It’s a long season, and with other sporting and personal commitments, a lot of give and take must be allowed in order to steady the ship.

“You work hard you dream big and you take your chances after that. I’m not one to go counting number of sessions or anything like that, we always look ahead to what works for people in terms of training times. It doesn’t always work out but you take the numbers you have and you work around it. As momentum moves on the numbers get stronger and bigger and as they free up from other sports as well it does tend to give you a bit more time.”

Gleeson admits that he would like to award every committed member of his panel with the chance to take to the pitch for their parish, unfortunately some players will have to bide their time before they get that opportunity.

“A lot of those players will know at this point whether their opportunity will arise or not. It can take us an hour and a half or two hours to look at a team selection, we take a lot of time looking at the what if’s. I think it’s a squad scenario, I wish I could play thirty aside because I have thirty players who want to play who would certainly make a big contribution if they did play. The committed players and the younger players all accept that their time will come and it will.”

Adare made a big statement in the semi-final stages seeing off a seasoned Drom-Broadford side but the slate will be wiped clean ahead of County final day.

“We take every game as it comes and we analyse it as best we can. I’m fortunate to have great selectors and coaches, in fairness they put in just as much time as all the lads do. “

“It’s just another game but the prize is bigger and that’s the way it is. We’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing over the past couple of months. I’m not really into history, it’s about the day, it’s about the game and with a bit of luck I think we have a chance, we’re underdogs but we’ll do the best we can.”

Newcastle West will be looking to claim their second senior football title in three years this Sunday while Adare’s footballers have yet to taste victory on the big stage. Despite the fact that Gleeson and his management team are treating the final like any other game, he hopes that the occasion doesn’t affect his younger players.

We’re hoping we can give Newcastle West a good run for their money, we’re certainly going out there to try. They’re young players and I’m hoping that the occasion won’t be too much for them. I think they’ve shown great maturity way beyond their years in the Drom game and the Ballylanders game.”

For some of Adare’s more senior players this will be a chance to atone for past disappointments, most notably the agonising 2010 final loss at the hands of Monaleen. While some of the younger members of the club who will not have suffered the same heart-break won’t be haunted by the same demons. For Gleeson the balance of young and old has played a part in his side’s success this season.

“The way I look at it, with the older players time runs out quick enough. I think they certainly bring a lot of maturity and a lot of wise heads to the younger lads and I think the younger lads have that energy and enthusiasm that rubs off on the older lads. I think the mix on both sides gives a tremendous balance.”