GAA: Pilot Cormac ready for take off

The 29-year-old Ryan Air pilot hopes to bring Derry Senior Championship kingpins Ballinderry down to earth with a bump.

And Cormac insists that he and his team-mates are strapped in and ready for the 3.45pm departure at Celtic Park - with glory the final destination.

"Over the past three years or so the club has just continued to progress, progress and progress. We have done well at Intermediate level and performed on the all-Ireland stage and now we are doing it at senior level," he told Times Sport during a trip home for a training session last Wednesday evening.

"I think the players are all aware of what's happening and have put in a lot of extra effort and hard work.

"We are a lot more committed now and the boys have been working on their own in the gym and eating correctly.

"The coaches have put in a tremendous amount of work too and that's paid off. The final is huge for us but we have achieved nothing yet."

Cormac, who is based at Ryanair's East Midlands headquarters, insists Eoghan Rua have deservedly earned their ticket to the final.

"Ballinderry have been the club of the past decade with something like three championships in the past ten years. They beat us in our first game at home earlier in the season after we had led by three or four points going into the last few minutes.

"They did the same to Lavey in injury time in the semi-final so we know that they will never give up and will keep going to the last minute. It will be an intense match and it will go right to the last whistle."

However Cormac believes Eoghan Rua could have a distinct numerical advantage on the terraces at Celtic Park.

"My brother Jon, who is training to be an air traffic controller in Australia and is a former player for the club, was thinking of coming home for the match but I don't think that's going to happen now.

"Eoghan Rua always gets really good support. The time we were in the All Ireland final there were loads of people who drove down to Dublin in their cars as well as bus loads.

"I can see there being hundreds and hundreds of our supporters there on the day, hopefully we will have the majority of fans. We really appreciate the efforts of the supporters, club members and especially, the dedication of the coaching staff."

Naturally this Sunday's occasion will be a family occasion for all those connected with the progressive Coleraine club.

Not only has Cormac's brother Jon played for Eoghan Rua at senior level but Patrick turned out as a junior and parents, well known Portstewart businessman Charlie and Anne Marie have been long time supporters of the club.

Cormac himself has been at the club since he was a schoolboy and because of his job he has been flown in for games for the past two seasons.

The corner back came home two years ago to get his airline pilot licence after holding a commercial licence in the United States.

"Last year I missed out on the quarter-final championship game against Dungiven. I flew home for the weekend and the match was changed to the Wednesday night. Thanks to the club that’s the only match I’ve really missed.”

And Cormac sent out a warning to Ballinderry that Eoghan Rua won’t simply be passengers this Sunday and are determined to bring the coveted Derry title back to Portstewart.

“We are confident in our own ability. We have put it up to everyone we have met this year.

“We know how talented Ballinderry are but our coach Sean McGoldrick has drummed it into us never to give up and we’ll be going flat out to the final whistle.”

So all together then - air we go, air we go, air we go!