Linnane battles back from most difficult moment

IT was one of the feel good stories of Sunday’s final.

He was warming up, pacing up and down in front of the Hogan Stand, going through the routine and then the call came. It was time. Forty seven minutes on the clock, he replaced Brian Friel on the Kerry team.

A cheer went up from the Kerry faithful. They knew what this meant for the young Beale man who went off stricken during the Munster minor final last year. From dreams dashed to dreams come true in the space of fifteen months.

It was only after meeting his parents as the celebrations were in full swing that Cormac Linnane realised the magnitude of the comeback from injury he had made. To hell and back and to the promised land.

Of course, that he was underage again this year gave him a chance at redemption. It didn’t, however, guarantee it. No the Ballybunion lad had to work his socks off to get back to fitness and the type of form required for this level.

Inter-county football is no place for sentiment so don’t for a minute think that his place on the panel was assured. He was on the bench and on that pitch on Sunday because he deserved to be.

Something he proved when kicking what was one of the clinching scores six minutes into time added on. It came just after an effort for a goal by Galway that would have given them half a chance to get back into the game.

“It was a long road to get here but I got a lot of encouragement from my friends, family and others to work hard to get here and the work the physios did is something that I will never forget,” he said.

“I want to thank them for their support and when I knew they were all behind me, I never really doubted that I would get the chance to make up for missing out last year.”

On last Sunday’s game, Linnane was fairly certain of the factor that won the game for Kerry.

“It was down to our work-rate on the day I felt. We never underestimated Galway and they really tested us today. The work started from the back today with the amount of runs, passes, tackles and interceptions that were put in and that was all down to the attitude of hard work that we went in with today,” the Beale player said.

He also singled out team captain Seán O’Shea for special praise.

“He never wavered from the responsibility of being captain and he’s a special player in my view. Seán set out what he wanted us to do all through the year whether it was in Munster or in Croke Park and we achieved every single bit of it.

“The management were a big help to us as well in making us believe we could win every game and with the Under 21s to move up to now for those who make it certainly it is exciting times for Kerry football.”

Linnane’s grit and determination mean he won’t ever be far away.