By Kevin Herron
Stephen Beattie recalls being a 12-year-old boy in Rossa House back in 2004- the last time Rossa clinched the Volunteer Cup with a victory over Loughgeil at Casement Park.
17-years on from Jim Connolly receiving the cup and bringing it back to their Falls Road base to celebrate, the 29-year-old is hoping to guide his side to Championship honours against Dunloy at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon (3.45 throw-in).
Beattie describes the memories of 2004 giving him goosebumps that will always stick with him and said that doing it on Sunday would stay with him for the rest of his life.
“In 2004 I was 12-years-old, and I remember being in Rossa house for the celebrations” he recalled.
“I remember Jim Connolly lifting the trophy and I remember them singing their song- Pump it up- as well. they’re memories that will always stick with me and come Sunday- even thinking about it gives me goosebumps.
“Come Sunday, if I’m the person that’s lifting that trophy, it’s going to be something that sticks with me for the rest of my life and something I’ll be proud of. Even to captain this team into the final is a serious proud moment for myself and my family”.
Beattie was part of the 2015 side that won the All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship at Croke Park.
He believes that win was a steppingstone for the club, and they are now bearing fruits from the success.
“You’d think we were on a six-year programme but it’s just the way it’s happened” Beattie reflects.
“Since 2004 our club has disappeared in terms of competing in Senior Championships. 2015 was a good steppingstone when we won the Intermediate, we knew we had to drop down. I keep saying this is just the hard work paying off.
“All the buy in we’ve had and if you look at the team – I’d say there is 13 starting players that are still in our panel. It’s starting to bear fruits of the Intermediate, so fingers crossed it continues”.
Speaking alongside team-mates Gerard Walsh, Ciaran Orchin and manager Colly Murphy during Tuesday evenings press night at the Dub- Beattie was glad to get the media interviews out of the way and focus on Sunday/
“I just want to get all the interviews out of the way because now I can focus” he admits.
“It’s easy to say to boys- don’t be getting involved in the occasion, but you need to enjoy the occasion as well. they don’t come around that often, you enjoy the build-up but come Sunday it’s another game. Throw the ball in, and everything goes out the window, game plans go out the window in the final. We’ll get everything out of the way, we’ll enjoy our training and see where we’re at on Sunday”.
The Rossa captain believes the semi-final comeback against Cushendall shows maturity from the previous 12-months when they lost out by a single point to Sunday’s opponents Dunloy and is hoping that it won’t be another nail bitter.
“I remember being heartbroken last year when Dunloy scored the point to win” Beattie acknowledged.
“I remember being heartbroken when Paddy Magill scored that goal because I was like- this is happening to us again. But at the same time, I turned my back and I run, and I knew it wasn’t us.
“I did have a feeling we would sneak it and I think that does show the maturity of the panel. In the past Rossa would have said- this isn’t for us- whereas now, we’re actually stepping back up and saying- we’re not messing about anymore. Fingers crossed it doesn’t come that close to it on Sunday”.