Family affair as Ryan follows in brother Shane’s footsteps

A GOOD set of brothers will carry you a long way and that being the case Rathmore will be in a good position over the coming seasons.

The same, by the way, goes for Ballydonoghue. Last year the North Kerry club were represented on the victorious Kerry minor team by full-back Jason, who has since made the move up to Under 21 and senior (as a panellist under Eamonn Fitzmaurice).

This year his younger brother Micheál has followed in his footstep – although at wing-back – with distinction. Micheál team mate Mark Ryan follows in the footsteps of big brother Shane who excelled in goal for the minors in 2014.

Mark at midfield had another fine game on Sunday as part of a dominant partnership with Beaufort’s Mike Breen and above all else the Rathmore man feels that the understanding built up between him and Breen and with every other member of the panel was hugely important.

“We stuck together especially when Galway put the pressure was on us and the two first-half goals from the two high balls were crucial in giving us the belief to win. We knew we had the forwards to win the game once we were able to defend well,” Ryan said.

The conveyor belt of talent in Rathmore seems to be mirroring that of the county at large. It’s not just the Ryans who have come through, but also corner-forward Brian Friel.

“I hope it will give our underage teams as much encouragement to try and go on and follow this as much as seeing Shane win two years ago did for me in terms of offering motivation.

“I think next year will be strong again with the likes of David [Clifford], Diarmuid [O’Connor] and Michael [Potts] still around. The players we had on the extended panel should make an impact as well with the way they pushed us in training all year,” he said.

Ryan feels that both the management team and the development squad system deserve praise for last Sunday as well.

“I know people will talk about Peter trying to follow on from Jack O’Connor, but you have to remember as well there was practically a brand new panel on board here as well bar a few so that makes it all the more impressive.

“It’s great to see the work the development squads have done is bringing so much success.

“There might have been a bad impression about them before but the results they are bringing now are immense and hopefully it will continue onto senior level.”