The festive season offered the vast majority of people an opportunity to relax and take life easy.
But for Errigal Ciaran manager Enda McGinley it meant rather more homework as he continued with his team’s preparations for their All-Ireland Senior Football Club Championship Semi-Final against Kerry and Munster champions Dr Crokes at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday (3.30pm).
The meticulous McGinley is leaving nothing to chance as he ponders what he believes will be a gigantic task for his side as they bid to capture the All-Ireland club title in addition to the Tyrone and Ulster trophies which have been secured to date.
In overcoming Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster Championship Final, Dr Crokes shot from the hip in winning by 0-15 to 1-6.
And in doing so they rapped out a clear warning that in Michael Burns and Tony Brosnan they can boast two of the best forwards on the island.
With both having recorded 0-5 in the Munster decider, they let the Errigal Ciaran defence know that they will not be easily shackled at the weekend.
“There is no doubt that this Dr Crokes side possess talent and they will certainly be focused on going all the way. We had our work cut out against Kilcoo in the Ulster Final and now we need to engage a higher gear if we can,” points out manager McGinley.
With Burns and Brosnan the shooting stars up front, Gavin White is a player who has underlined his versatility not just in the colours of Dr Crokes but in the Kingdom jersey.
His consistency, ability to read games and willingness to transform defence into attack makes him a key cog in the Munster champions’ line-up.
When it is considered, too, that Mark O’Shea, Kieran O’Leary, Brian Looney and David Shaw are more than capable forwards it can be safely assumed that the Errigal Ciaran defence will need to be on their toes from the outset.
The Tyrone champions were taken to extra-time by a gallant Kilcoo side in the Ulster Final — the Down champions were reduced to 14 players for the closing stages of the game — and even then Errigal Ciaran only had a point to spare at the finish.
“The Errigal Ciaran players have put up with plenty of things being said about them over the years, particularly within Tyrone whenever they have come up short, but with the nature of the Tyrone Championship that can happen,” points out McGinley.
“Whenever it happens, plenty of stuff is said about them in terms of doubting their character. They felt the recent Ulster Final was the final chapter of that, of establishing themselves and showing themselves what they can do.”
Errigal Ciaran now see themselves as having a strong chance of making it into the All-Ireland Final and this being the case they will be giving it everything.
Manager McGinley is in no doubt that the fans will be getting behind his men just as they have been doing since the start of the Tyrone Championship.
“Those teams that have won before us, they do change mind-sets, so there is a mind-set factor to it,” maintains McGinley.
“Certainly for the club, you come in and there is that confidence. The enjoyment of the supporters, travelling out and heading to these places, they usually go in cavalcades. Everyone has a part to play in the pursuit of success as I see it.
“There is no doubt that players, supporters and management need to play a full part in this particular game. This is where we want to be and we want to do our best to make further progress.”