Knockbride skipper says low-key approach is paying dividends

By Niall Gartland

AN All-Ireland semi-final clash on home soil. It doesn’t get much better than that, but Knockbridge ladies captain Sarah McCabe says they’re very much keeping things on an even keel ahead of Saturday’s Intermediate semi-final clash with Naomh Abán of Cork.

After losing last year’s Cavan decider to Mullahoran, Knockbride decided to knock the hype surrounding such big matches on the head – at least within the camp itself.

Their new approach has paid dividends and they recently ran out comfortable victors in the Ulster Intermediate final against Monaghan side Brigid O’Neill’s.

So even though they’re one step away from the All-Ireland final, they won’t be getting carried away with themselves ahead of Saturday.

“Last year there was so much hype coming into the championship final. I think we treated the whole thing completely differently this year.

“It hasn’t really changed from the club championship heading into Ulster and now the All-Ireland. It’s very much about keeping things on the down-low. We seem to play better that way, when we don’t get too excited about things.”

Knockbride are the only Cavan club to have won an Ulster Senior Championship title. In 2022, they overcame Carrickmore on a famous day for the club, and McCabe is beginning to appreciate that their own success could reverberate for future generations.

“There were Knockbride legends on that team who are still in and around the club, and that team has always been spoken about here and rightly so.

“It’s mad to think that in a couple of years, youngsters coming through the club will be aware of our achievements.

“For us, it was just about winning the club championship, it was all we set out to do. It was class to make that step and now every game is a bonus for us.”

Cork side Naomh Abán were crowned Munster Ladies Intermediate football champions with an extra-time win over Clounmacon/Moyvane. It’s difficult to assess how games at this level will pan out, but Knockbride will have to pay close tabs on Roisin Lehane and Lydia McDonagh, both of whom scored highly in the Munster showdown.

Another footballer they’ll need to watch is Grace Murphy, a very creative player who clinched the LGFA Player of the Month award for October 2025. Naomh Abán actually reached the All-Ireland Junior final three years ago, and although they lost, that experience may stand to them this weekend.

Knockbride do, however, have home advantage so it’s a lengthy trek for their Cork opposition. They’ll enjoy a big support in the stands but McCabe makes the point that it wouldn’t matter where the game was staged – the Knockbride supporters would find a way there.

McCabe said: “It’s an awfully long journey for them. We’ll have great support but to be fair, even if it’s an away game, there’s a brilliant turnout. We have great support from other local clubs, so having a home game is brilliant.”