'We knew it would come to this' — Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh manager Liam Shorten embraces decisive showdown with Dohenys

Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh manager Liam Shorten says his side’s season now comes down to a single, straight-up battle with Dohenys — and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sunday in Kilmichael will decide everything for Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh. Beat Dohenys and they’re into the knockout stages of the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC. 

For Shorten, the clarity of the situation is exactly what his group expected from the outset.

“We knew it would come down to this,” he says. 

“We’re happy enough not going into the game facing relegation, but we expect to get to the knockout stages. We get there most years. 

"After getting to the semi-final last year, we were expecting to get out of the group this season — knowing it would be very tough — but that’s the expectation we have with this group of players.” 

Their campaign has steadied since a disappointing opening-round loss to Kanturk, a performance Shorten doesn’t sugar-coat. Preparation was disrupted by a wedding abroad and injuries, but he stresses that the attitude since then has transformed.

“We didn’t show up at all against Kanturk. It was a combination of us being very poor and them being very good. We had a couple of fellas patched together who had very little training done. 

"We put out our 15 most experienced players instead of maybe giving younger lads a go, hoping they’d get us over the line — but that wasn’t the way.

“Since the Kanturk game, the lads really knuckled down. They knew it was last chance-saloon against Aghabullogue. They had to win to put themselves in a position to qualify. They’re old enough now — they drive the thing themselves. We only facilitate it. They’re a very driven group.” 

Their Round 2 win over Aghabullogue was deserved, even if imperfect.

“We’d have expected to beat Aghabullogue if we played to our potential,” Shorten said. 

“Most of our lads did on the day, despite a very poor third quarter. I think we gave the ball back maybe 10 times. It was scrappy. But Ben Shorten’s two-pointer gave us a lift. Then their kickout went wrong and we punished it with a goal. That finished the game. Overall, we were the better team.” 

The manager knows they must go up “another notch or two” to beat Dohenys — and he’s under no illusions about the challenge.

“We know what Dohenys are going to bring,” Shorten states. 

“New management this year — you always get a kick out of that. They’ve had two big games now. They reeled Aghabullogue in to draw. They should have beaten Kanturk but did draw. And Kanturk hammered us the first day. So if you’re going by that logic, we have it all to do.

“I’m very confident in our guys. If we play to our potential, I’d be expecting us to win. If we don’t, Dohenys will beat us — end of story. 

"It’s very tight at this grade. There's been nothing between us over the last few years. This is our fourth time meeting in championship in about six seasons and there’s never been more than a kick of a ball in it.

“But if our lads have the right attitude, show aggression, go after turnovers, defend well, attack at pace — the stuff we’re good at — I’d be very hopeful of a win.” 

McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC fixtures 

Sunday (all 2pm) 

Group 1: Kanturk v Aghabullogue, Macroom; Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh v Dohenys, Kilmichael.

Group 2: Carbery Rangers v Newmarket, Carrigadrohid; Cill na Martra v O’Donovan Rossa, Enniskeane.

Group 3: Kilshannig v Éire Óg, Grenagh; Bishopstown v Clyda Rovers, Páirc Uí Rinn.