Cusack: Steelstown targeting second spot

THE best both Steelstown and Shane O’Neill’s can do is to finish as the top second-placed team in the Ulster Ladies group stages, and Steelstown boss Thomas Cusack says his side are aiming to do just that.

The two teams lost their respective outings to Knockbride, who have already secured their spot at the top of the table and advanced to the semi-finals.

If the Derry champions are going to grab their place in the last four, then they’ll have to put the Shane’s to the sword and enjoy a big away day victory.

“Both ourselves and Shane O’Neill’s are going for second place and who wins will get that second place so it’s the same scenario for both teams,” Cusack said.

With the new group stage format in the Ulster Senior Championship, Cusack feels it gives his side more exposure at that level, rather than just one straightforward knockout game.

“I definitely prefer it; you want to get the opportunity to play against the best teams in Ulster. In previous years you got one match and if you lose it then that’s it, it’s all over.

“This year we’ve got two matches to really challenge ourselves against the best teams from the other counties, so I think it’s a great format.”

Shane O’Neill’s pose a huge threat, especially on home turf and with the Mackin sisters, Aimee and Blaithin, at full tilt, Steelstown will hope to tie them down.

Cusack however believes his side can’t be too worries about what will face on Sunday and insists they have to focus on themselves if they are going to be successful.

“The Mackin’s are two fine footballers and two great players, we’ll have people earmarked to mark them,” Cusack continued.

“Two players like that, you’re probably not going to completely stop them so it’s just about managing them and limit what they can do.

“But we have to play our own game as well. Shane O’Neill’s have other strong players throughout the team as well.

“So far, I don’t think we have played to our potential so it’s up to us to try and impose ourselves on the game and show what we can do at this level.”

Steelstown lost by six-points at home in round one. Knockbride, who won the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship title last season, picked up a 1-11 to 0-8 victory.

Cusack hopes his side can respond positively this weekend and suggests his side has grown stronger in the intervening two weeks.

“We were very nervy at the start,” he added. “We were trying to relax the girls and learn from last year when Lurgan gave us a good spanking.

“The first 10 or 15 minutes of the game we were very nervy and we were always chasing the game; we never really got any momentum.

“I think we could have played a lot better, and we didn’t show what we have but we’re ready for Sunday. We have a couple of girls that weren’t available for the last game that are back in contention for a place.