by Daragh Small

Former Mayo midfielder Jason Gibbons says Ballintubber have every chance of upsetting rampant Corofin in the Connacht final.

The Mayo champions claimed a 3-11 to 1-8 win over Aughawillan on Sunday as they reached only their second provincial final.

In their only final Connacht final appearance Ballintubber lost 2-13 to 1-7 against Corofin, before the north Galway outfit went on to claim an All-Ireland title.

But the 29-year-old believes Ballintubber can win their first ever Connacht title after they were victorious at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

“It’s going to be a massive day for us again but it’s just another game. We have the panel and players to do well,” said Gibbons. 

“At the start of the year we aim for a county final and a Connacht final and we are here now. We are going to enjoy the next two weeks and we are looking forward to it. 

“Aughawillan are a good footballing side. But Corofin are Corofin, they are all All-Ireland champions. We are going to go in as underdogs but we have nothing to fear now. 

“We have come through all of the battles we have had this year. What will be will be and we are looking forward to it now, that’s the most important thing.”

Gibbons didn’t score but dominated midfield against the Leitrim champions in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Former All-Star Cillian O’Connor scored six points from frees, while his brother Diarmaid O’Connor also gave a powerful display.

“Cillian has been doing it in the last few games for us, it’s great to see him firing them frees over,” said Gibbons. 

“It really takes the pressure off when frees are hard come by in November football. He is nailing them so we are happy with that. 

“We only scored one goal in the last four or five games but we nailed that and we are delighted with it. We made a hard job of it but we comprehensively won in the end so we would be happy enough with that.

“We were on the ropes in midfield once or twice, but we won a lot of breaking ball and Diarmaid drove forward.”

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