FACING up to the ultimate test in Kilcoo, Burren manager Collie Holmes says that his players know that unless they get their attitude just right, they won’t reach the county final this season.
He pointed out that in the past year, Burren have twice allowed their focus to slip, against Carryduff in last year’s semi-final and against Clonduff in the second round of this year’s Senior Championship.
But up against the defending champions Kilcoo, Burren have no room for error.
“This is the ultimate test,” Collie said.
“From the first minute till the end, we need to match their intensity and quality, but we didn’t do that against Clonduff.
“We took a long hard look at that and tried to address some of the things in the games that have come afterwards. “We think we are in a better position, but we won’t know if we are until Sunday evening.”
Kilcoo are the 23-time champions of Down football, and have won 14 of the last 17 competitions.
They are bidding to win their eighth title in a row, so they are a team with massive experience.
Collie picked out what has made them so good.
“The biggest thing about them is that they trust each other. They have experience in every line, from their goalkeeper Niall Kane right out to their corner forward, Paul Devlin.
“A lot of people are saying that they have a new team, and newish players on the team but in each and every line, they have players there who have been there and done it.
“They are looking after the younger players really well, you can see that.
“The more experienced heads are still there and steering the ship.”
Match ups can be important when trying to take on a big team, but Collie was wary of getting too bogged down in getting the right man on the right man.
“Once you go beyond one or two, then you start to pull yourself out of shape.
“The way the game is going with the midfield and keeping three up and three back, match ups are at the start of the game, but after that it is very fluid and very open.
“You will have one or two men tagged and that is about it.”
