'We're not going to make up the numbers' says Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan's Shane Gallagher

PREPARATIONS are well underway for Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan as they get set to take on Aghabullogue of Cork in the Munster Intermediate Football semi-final.

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It is uncharted territory for ABK Desmond's who are revelling in their first county title success since 2008, when they clinched the intermediate crown against St Patrick's.

Shane Gallagher, who was part of that team 17 years ago, says his side are looking forward to Sunday's clash in Páirc Uí Chaoimh after coming through a challenging Limerick Intermediate Championship.

"We knew they were a quality side who dominated their group and it was a worry that we would struggle to turn around in five days given the nature of the game, how close nit was and how demanding it was.

"There was a huge sense of achievement beating Galbally in the semi-final but we also had to be conscious of turning it around in the right way and the management did a super job in making sure that everybody was focused.

"We kept the energy going from what was an epic game, the lads did an excellent job at doing that in those five days and that filtered through to the team," he said. 

Although the current ABK Desmond's side are relatively young team, Gallagher says his side were focused on ending a 17-year drought for silverware.

"We're a reasonably young team if you were to take myself out of it, it's been a long time since the lads have been in a county final. We knew it was going to be a big challenge against them.

"We were just so focused on getting our game right and turning up on the day and thankfully we were able to do that. It was 17 years since we were last in a final so that hunger was there to go out and perform. 

"It had been a while since 2008, there's four of us left from that team still hanging around which is an achievement to hang around for that length of time! 

Former Limerick inter-county player Gallagher says Gaelic football a different game from the one it was nearly two decades ago. 

"It's a very different game from what it was back then, it's gone through several evolutions in that time. It was a simpler game back then, it was 15 v 15 but over time sweepers started to come in, not that it's something we would've played with ourselves.

"It's gone through the very defensive side of football with teams having one or two sweepers for several years but I have to say the new rules are a breath of fresh air. 

"The level of scoring that's going on in games, the scoring in our semi-final and final recently were high-scoring affairs, compare that with games in years gone by where scoring 10 or 11 points would've been enough to win a game, that's not the case anymore and it makes it a much better spectacle. 

"There is no comparison to 2008, it was a much more open and expansive game back then but it looks to be heading back that direction which is great to see," he said.

Gallagher, who is also the ABK Desmond's club chairman outlines how the new rules have helped the team this year. 

"The new rules have definitely helped our forward play, we would've struggled to break teams down in the past but we have some real pacy forwards in Danny Neville, Paul O'Shaughnessy and Joey Rushe, the rules afford us to make space for those guys which is a big positive from the rule changes." 

The west Limerick side will be taking on Cork's Aghabullogue in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday at 1pm, Gallagher says that his side will be facing a stern test.

Aghabullogue earned their place in this year's Munster Intermediate championship after they defeated Uibh Laoire in the Cork Premier Intermediate final on a scoreline of 2-12 to 2-11.

Aghabullogue already have some Munster championship experience under their belt with a quarter-final win over Thurles Sarsfields last week, winning 0-20 to 0-15.

"We don't know a huge amount about them other than the fact that they will be a really tough team, coming off an intermediate win in Cork, they're sure to be a quality side.

"It'll be a tough challenge, we know that's what will face us, it'll be a nice experience for everyone to play at Páirc Uí Chaoimh but we're certainly not going down to make up the numbers. We'll be putting our best foot forward and looking to come out with the win."

Gallagher, who turns 42 in the new year, says it has been satisfying to see how the club's recent success has impacted the younger members of the squad. 

"It's been fantastic, there's been a great buzz around the place, for myself to look back and see how the younger lads are enjoying it, it's great to see.

"We had had a tough couple of years in senior, winning one or two games a season and it's demoralising for the younger lads that don't have much experience of us getting as far as a quarter-finals or semi-finals.

"They've been putting in a lot at senior level without getting much reward and in some way the drop to intermediate was a good thing for us for the year.

"It gave those lads an energy again and the enjoyment of winning games again. It can be tough going if you're going out battling for one or two wins a season but this year has been fantastic.

"We celebrated the final win well because these things don't come around too often! We did enjoy it and it's brought a great energy about the panel going into the Munster Championship," Gallagher concluded.