Eoghan itching to make up for lost time

WHEN Donncha O’Connor finally left the Cork inter-county stage there was definitely a void left in his wake.

The Ballydesmond man was one of the most talented attackers that Cork have had on their books in some time and his decision to call it a day in his late thirties was disappointing, but hardly surprising.

As the old cliché goes, when one door closes another one opens, and for Cork that door came in the form of another Duhallow boy, Eoghan McSweeney.

The Knocknagree star made his name with his club in recent years and deservedly got to start his senior inter-county career last year – a career that all in the area hopes will be as long and as fruitful as O’Connor’s was. McSweeney may be one of the newer squad members in the Cork Senior Football set-iup, but he has been making plenty waves in his county colours since he burst onto the scene in 2019.

McSweeney, an attacking forward with plenty of pace and skill, has become a fully-fledged member of what Ronan McCarthy is trying to achieve with Cork and, while his championship appearances for the county were limited due to injury last season, his future in the set-up looks secure for now.

Obviously in recent months there have been no opportunities for McSweeney to show his skills, but that hasn’t stopped the young man or his fellow squad members from doing their bit for the county.

McSweeney and his colleagues came together in the last number of weeks to raise funds for Pieta house, which helped continue the bond that has been forged within the inter-county set-up.

“We all got together there a couple of weeks ago and said we would like to do something for Pieta House,” said the Duhallow native.

“After their Darkness into Light annual fundraiser had to be postponed we felt that we could and should do something to help – so we came up with the plan of Cork Club Together and thankfully it turned out to be a great success – simple but very effective.”

While McSweeney and his teammates are close the peak of their fitness powers right now running long distances is not something that the players are overly used to – ally that to the serious temperatures experienced last weekend and you get some idea of the challenge that the players took on for this worthy cause.

“We all ran 10k each and passed it on to the next fellow and it all worked out very well. I think I may have got a bit of the short straw running it at 3.30 on one of the hottest days of the year. To say it was warm would be a massive understatement, but thankfully I got there.”

While some may feel that a 10k run isn’t that taxing, McSweeney was clear that for modern day footballers long distance road running isn’t something that features on their radar too often.

“It would be very rare that I would do something like run 10k myself. Since the lockdown I suppose people are trying to be a little bit more and I did try a little bit at the start, but for me I prefer running on grass because [roads] are very tough on the legs.

“I’d be afraid that the road running would slow me down in one way. It does help with endurance, but I find you have a lot more aches and pains running on the road.”

While the exertions would obviously have taken a toll on the players the senior football star was clear that all the effort was worth it as the money rolled in for Pieta.

“Look, while it was tough on the day, the figure when I last checked was at about €17k raised, which is brilliant both for us and for Pieta House. It is great to be able to do something like this for such a charity – a charity that deals with very serious issues – issues that all in the squad can relate to through themselves, their families and their friends. There is nobody in Ireland that hasn’t been effected by the issues supported by Pieta House.”

Eoghan McSweeney may well not have gotten to show all his wares as of yet to the Cork sporting public as his first 12 months inside the Cork set-up haven’t exactly gone to plan, but the proud North Cork man still remains positive.

McSweeney made his championship debut for Cork against Limerick in 2019 but found himself on the side-lines for last year’s Munster Final after sustain an injury shortly before the team for the provincial showpiece was to be announced.

“I picked up an injury 10 days before the final in the last of the A versus B games. It was a real blow to me, it was sickening. There were to be more training sessions between that one and the game with Kerry, but that day was likely to be the last of the hard sessions.

“The A v B games are always intense and physical. Players are doing all they can to get onto the team so you expect players to go for it. I was unlucky on the day and that really is just it. You just have to get on with it and move on. That doesn’t mean you forget. You just put it to the back of your head and push on.

“It is over 12 months ago now and I sometimes still look back and it hurts. Particularly when it could have been my first senior Munster Final, but that is sport and you just have to get on with it. Hopefully there will be more big days to come and hopefully I will get a chance someday to play in the Munster Final. From this day to that all I can do is work hard and do my best.”

The current shut down has been hard on all GAA players, both inside and outside the Cork camp and while few would argue with the restrictions that have been put in place all would agree that a clear pathway out is important.

“There needs to be a clear plan for us all. Even with the club championship it is important that we get some indication of what is going to happen. Of course, you would be hoping that things will improve and we can all get back out there and it is important for us that we stay training and doing our bit to be ready when it does come back.”

McSweeney is clear that playing for his club, his division and his county is hugely important to him and while he doesn’t want to play behind closed doors he will do it for the teams he represents.

“I wouldn’t be a fan of playing the games without supporters. Even from watching the soccer on the TV without fans you can see it’s not the same. The games are nothing without the supporters.

“Especially in GAA where the sports are so much about the community. To have that community outside the door would be really difficult. If it happens it happens but it wouldn’t be something that I would be hoping for.”

Speaking of his club Knocknagree, McSweeney will always have fond memories of playing with his club and especially of that magical time when the club saw off all comers to be crowned All Ireland Junior football Club Champions in 2018.

“Oh God we definitely won’t forget it anyway. It was an unreal time to be fair. It just took off. The season took on a life of its own and it became this thing that just couldn’t be stopped. Especially after we didn’t even win our own divisional championship. We kind of got a free shot from that day on.

“We were running alongside Kanturk’s hurlers who also went all the way in their bid for an All-Ireland and we seemed to feed off each other. Both teams, just a few miles apart, supported and drove each other on and thankfully for both we got to the Holy Grail.”

Speaking of support, McSweeney spared the highest praise for their commander in chief that year.

“Look, there is no doubt about it but without John Fintan Daly we wouldn’t have got there. It is as simple as that. He was just loving it and he got us over the line.

“The fans were also a huge part of that success. There were times when there was no one in Knocknagree. They were all following the team whether it was around the county or up in Dublin. The whole place seemed to be with us and that was a huge part of that journey and something that we as players will likely never forget.

“These are all the things we are missing this year. Of course you

Oh God we definitely won’t forget it anyway. It was an unreal time to be fair. The season took on a life of its own

miss the games and the training, but especially you miss just being around with the lads. Seeing people around.

“I am away with the county for long periods, but I can always just come down to training and be with the lads. The club are great, if you are not able to do the training because of inter-county stuff they understand. I do what I can with them. It is the same with Duhallow.

“I love playing for the division side as well. Playing with Duhallow gives you an exposure to high quality senior football standard and that has really helped my game over the last few years.

The division are also very accommodating and again that is very helpful to me and my football.”

Being part of the Cork senior set-up has been a real step up for McSweeney and despite the extra workload the Knocknagree man is really enjoying it.

“You just don’t understand how much work there is in it when you’re looking in from the outside but it is all worth it. Last year was just crazy for me. It was a real eye opener for me. The facilities at CIT and Páirc Uí Chaoimh are brilliant, they are the best you could hope to get and we are blessed to have them at our disposal.

“Just being part of the setup and all aspects of it at the moment is great. We are obviously a little disappointed with the way the league has ended up after getting into such a great position, but hopefully we will be able to sort that out when we get the chance.

“Outside of that we seem to be heading in the right direction with Cork and hopefully we will be able to continue in that vein when we get back to action – whenever that may be.”

McSweeney and his colleagues will remain training in private for the foreseeable future hoping that their football lives can be reborn sooner rather than later – sooner would be better of course.