HISTORY is consigned to the past and former glories won’t help either Ballinderry or Austin Stacks this Saturday says Shamrocks boss Jarlath Bell ahead of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final.
Both sides, vying for Intermediate glory, have the honour of a senior crown on their roll of honour. Stacks claimed the title way back in 1977, beating Derry’s Ballerin in the final, while Ballinderry climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand as recently as 2002.
But those accomplishments have been and gone and the joy experienced almost 23-years ago will be of little aid come this weekend and hasn’t really counted for much on Ballinderry’s successful run in both Derry and Ulster.
“That’s been talked about as regards to ourselves on numerous occasions,” said Bell. “I always say to the lads themselves, that’s quite a while ago now. It’s okay to have it on the honours list not but there’s absolutely no impact on going forward.
“I’ve told the lads at various stages that it’s important that they go out and make their own history. This is a brand-new group and there’s a lot of youth within the group so sometimes history can be an advantage, sometimes it can be a disadvantage.
“The history thing weighs a wee bit heavy on you if you let it but that’s probably me and Davey’s (Harte) job not to let that happen and Austin Stacks are very similar in that regard too, the two clubs are very similar.”
Both clubs have claimed top honours in their own counties 13 times. Ballinderry have reached the summit of Ulster three times at senior level, with Austin Stacks having done in twice in Munster, and both clubs have that All-Ireland senior title as well.
“I think we both have similar championships won, 13. The provincial titles there as well and an All-Ireland club so we’re very similar in those regards,” Bell continued. “I suppose for us and Stacks comparatively now there probably is a wee bit of difference.
“They won a Senior Championship just three years ago. This time three years ago they were preparing for a Munster club competition, a Munster club final. It’s eleven years since we won a senior title, so from that point of view there’s a huge difference.
“I know they’ve lost a few lads from that campaign three years ago but there’s still a good number of lads involved. So, while there’s similarities in regard to history from years ago, there’s a wee bit of difference more recently.
“That’s probably why the bookies have us at 4/1. The odds don’t look too good for us to be honest; they’re not giving us much of a chance. Maybe it’s based on the fact that they have that recent senior success, I don’t know.”
Ballinderry eventually shook off the attentions of Arva in the postponed Ulster final, by the narrowest of margins, to embark on this All-Ireland journey. They’ve had to deal with Christmas in between it all, but Bell insists his side are ready to go.
“The boys enjoyed themselves for a couple of days after the Ulster final and then we had to pull the reins back in because this match was coming down the tracks pretty quickly. We lost that week with the storm, so we had to get back on the horse the following Tuesday night.
“Then the following week you’re into Christmas week so it’s been kind of a whirlwind to be honest but it’s a great headache to have. Christmas was great, it was very enjoyable, no rest for the wicked and we’re just back at it again.”