‘To win it would be the stuff of dreams’
KANTURK and Cork shot-stopper Anthony Nash had a Saturday less ordinary than most, as he lined out for his club in the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate Championship semi-final. The Duhallow side made easy work of Armagh outfit Middletown in Newbridge, and now looks forward to a Croke Park showdown with St Patrick’s Ballyragget on Sunday.
However, this was only half of Nash’s scheduled workload for the day, as he had been named in John Meyler’s Cork team to face Kilkenny at Páirc Uí Chaoimh that evening. The goalkeeper revealed that it was his decision to make himself available for both games, but ultimately it wasn’t feasible.
“I made myself available. A lot of people are saying ‘John did this, John did that’. I asked to be considered for both games. I had spoken to both him and Kanturk. Once I was injury-free leaving the Kanturk game, they were happy enough. John [ultimately] decided it wasn’t the fairest thing to do.
“There was probably a bit of uncertainty with timings so they decided a good bit before the game that they wouldn’t do it. I was down [in Páirc Uí Chaoimh] in plenty of time. But something could have happened on the motorway.
“I felt I would be fine - it was the first Cork game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh after all. Cork got the win which was the most important thing - the weekend couldn’t have gone any better.”
A long campaign that saw them come through Cork, Munster, and now to Croke Park via London and Newbridge would take its toll on any side, and given the break since the run of games at the end of 2017, momentum was difficult to maintain for the club.
“It’s about striking a balance. We had a lot of competitive games in a row before Christmas, and had perhaps our best performance in the Munster final against Kilmayley.
“Going to London was always going to be a tricky fixture as it was heading into the unknown. Fortunately we just got out of there. It wouldn’t have one of our best performances. In fairness they put it up to us over there. Over Christmas it was just about keeping it together - getting a break and trying to strike a balance of keeping lads fit. We did okay the last day [against Middletown], but we’re under no illusions ahead of the next day.”
Tucked away in the northwest corner of the county, the Duhallow division could consider itself lucky to have a club playing in an All-Ireland final in Croke Park. To have two is ludicrous. Knocknagree, situated just a few miles up the road from Kanturk, compete for the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship on Saturday, in what will be a bumper weekend for the football and hurling mad area.
There is a real buzz in Duhallow, ahead of what could be two historic days on Jones Road.
“Their manager John Fintan Daly actually has a [solictor’s] practice in Kanturk so the two clubs would be very close in that way as well. When they got out of Cork, they had a great chance. Fortunately, they got through and it’s going to be a great weekend for the division of Duhallow. Obviously, we’re keeping an eye on their fixtures and we’re wishing them the best of luck. It would not only be great for Cork but also for the division of Duhallow.”
Amid his National Hurling League involvement and with neighbours Knocknagree thriving, Nash could be forgiven for being slightly distracted. But there’s only one thing on his mind ahead of the weekend.
“Since I was seven years of age, I’ve been playing hurling with Kanturk. Even for the coaches that started us off, driving us to matches and training, making sacrifices, this is everything. Some people have passed away unfortunately, some great supporters have passed away in the time. To win it would be incredible, the stuff of dreams. We’re an hour away, please God. We need to put in a solid performance