The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
A sixth East Kerry GAA All Star for Aidan O’Mahony
IT takes a special talent to be crowned Senior Player of the East Kerry Championship. Think Seamus Moynihan. Or Colm Cooper. Eoin Brosnan or Aidan O’Mahony.
It also take a prodigious player to take the Young Footballer of the East Kerry Championship award. Daithi Casey and Conor Keane were two such winners who have worn the Kerry jersey at senior level.
It says much about the quality of players involved in the O’Donoghue Cup and the standard of performance required to win these coveted awards that no Young Player of the Championship recipient has gone on to be named Senior Player of the Championship in the eight-year history of the East Kerry All Stars. Until this year.
It takes a rare talent indeed to be named the Young Player of the Championship and also have performed to a level that made it an unanimous decision for the judges to name him Senior Player of the Year too. Take a bow Shane Ryan.
Still just 21 years of age, not only did Rathmore’s precocious inside forward successfully defend the Young Player title he won last year, but he was also an easy and popular winner of the main award, taking over from club mate Aidan O’Mahony who claimed the accolade in 2016.
“Hugely honoured and very humbled really,” Ryan told The Kerryman as he juggled the three pieces of crystal he won at last Friday’s East Kerry GAA All Star awards night. He also collected a second successive All Star award.
“Most players say that the O’Donoghue Cup is the most important thing, and it still is, but it’s very nice, without a doubt, to be recognised personally. The O’Donoghue Cup is sitting in Rathmore and that’s what is most important in my mind but these awards are appreciated.
“The O’Donoghue Cup is bred into us since we’re about ten years of age in Rathmore and I think it’s great that we are in this District. We’ve had disappointments in the county championship over the last few years, but the year isn’t over when you go out of the county championship. The O’Donoghue Cup is still to be played and we’ve said it several times over the last few years that the O’Donoghue Cup is nearly on a par with the county championship, and that’s not a lie, because we take it so seriously. And with the teams in the District, with so many really good senior and intermediate teams, it’s a great competition to be involved. To win four of them in a row is very satisfying and hopefully we can push on and win a few more in the near future,” Ryan said.
Reflecting on the O’Donoghue Cup, Ryan acknowledges the keen rivalry involved in the District and that while the familiarity of the teams doesn’t quite breed contempt it does make winning all the more satisfying.
“We played Spa in the quarter-final and were level with them with, I think, only two minutes to go. Gneeveguilla, in the semi-final, put us to the pin of our collar, and so did Legion (in the final) so there are no easy games in the O’Donoghue Cup. Derbies make them hard. No matter what level the teams are at it’s usually going to be tight because every team really raises their performance for what are essentially derby games. The conditions, as well, playing it in November and into December makes it that bit more difficult, so every game is really hard fought in tough conditions, but coming through and winning those kind of games make it really special as well.”
On his own performance Ryan, a teacher in De La Salle in Macroom, was typically modest. “It’s hard to know because while every player does reflect on their own performance I’m not sure, it’s something I have thought too much about. I’m just trying to enjoy the success with the team and the club and not take it for granted. I’ve been senior since 2013, and while every one thinks I’m still young in terms of being with the senior team I’ve been there for four years and next year (2018) will be my fifth season playing senior football.
“I’ve won three O’Donoghue Cups and that’s something I’m trying to cherish. The older lads, Aidan (O’Mahony) and some of the them, have been telling me to enjoy them because there were barren years in Rathmore where nothing was won, so appreciate these victories, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Ryan, of course, won his awards last weekend for his brilliant performance at full forward for his club, so it might be easy to forget that he was called into the Kerry senior panel last year as back-up to goalkeeper Brian Kelly after Brendan Kealy left the panel after the National League. Ryan, a former Kerry minor and Under-21 goalkeeper, even made the Championship panel for the All-Ireland quarter-final and semi-finals against Galway and Mayo respectively. Even with the expectation that Dr Crokes’ Shane Murphy will make a strong claim for the No.1 jersey, the understanding was that Ryan would provide serious competition for Kelly.
It raised a few eyebrows, then, when news came through over the winter that Ryan had removed himself from the Kerry squad.
“I was in there last year training with them but for the moment I’m not involved anyway, but sure we’ll see what happens. I’ve put all my eggs in the one basket and I’ve decided to commit to outfield and that’s what my plan is at the moment, and we’ll see where it takes us,” he explained. “It was entirely a decision I made myself.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my football and I think that’s the main thing for any player, young or old. If you’re not enjoying it there’s no point in doing it, but I’m really enjoying it now and long may that continue.
“I just enjoy my football more outfield and I think that’s where I get the most out of myself. And if I end up playing for Kerry some day, which is still my ambition, then great, and if I don’t then once I’m enjoying my football I don’t mind.
“It’s an enjoyment thing. I know people will probably wonder why I gave up a place in the Kerry panel but that’s not a decision I took lightly. There was a lot of thinking in it and sometimes you just have to go with your gut and this is just my gut instinct at the moment.”
I’ve put all my eggs in the one basket and I’ve decided to commit to outfield and that’s my plan at the moment