under 19 cup final preview

Jonny Stapleton Clondalkin under-19 captain Bobby Smith is determined to make this Good Friday great with victory over Leinster’s top underage side Naas in the North Midland’s cup final. The robust forward, who is as comfortable in the front row as he is the back, knows Clon will have to produce beyond their best if they are defeat their divisional superior rivals in what is their second final this year. However, having tasted defeat a somewhat cruel defeat in the Leinster League decider earlier in the year the captain claims they have no better motivation for victory. Smith has also drawn inspiration from the fourth teams Spiers cup win over the same opposition last year and has called on all the club’s supporters to come and lend their support to the stars of the future. “There is no real pressure on us. All the pressure is on Naas we are underdogs and they are expected to win,” Smith told CRTV. “Just because they are favourites doesn’t mean we can’t win. We might not have the same strength and debt as them but we have quality and most importantly gutsy players. I know 1-20 will fight to the death this weekend. We battled hard to get to two finals this year and pulled off some great results and we have tasted final defeat already and it tasted horrible. That will motivate us this Friday. We are in against the best but that is who you want to test yourself against.” Smith also points to the fourth teams last kick of the game cup final win this time last year to prove beating Naas isn’t mission impossible. “Our fourth team, captained by Jonny the Hips last year played a Naas side that had three players who are now in the AIL side and beat them in an amazing game. We can do the same. That game proved anything can happen on any given day and lets hope we can emulate it. The result aside this weekend I just want to thank the whole team they have been amazing all year and proved they are winners. I look forward to playing many more cup finals together at senior level.”

Added by TomDuffy April 19, 2011 (4:54PM)

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