The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Brick revelling in new role as senior team manager
BUSINESS as usual in Lerrig as Kilmoyley prepare for their tenth final appearance since that breakthrough year in 2001, when they bridged a thirty-year gap.
Central to the current success is somebody who was a stand-out performer throughout the four-in-arow (2001-2003) right up until his last championship appearance in 2016 when he won his seventh championship medal and finished as he started out in his career with the Man of the Match award.
Shane Brick now patrols the sideline as team manager, alongside two of the players who featured throughout that golden era. Maurice Murnane was the winning captain in 2003, and Padraig Regan was the full-back on the four in-a-row side. So far so good for one of Kilmoyley’s most celebrated sporting sons.
“A few of us had been chatting at the end of last season, we felt that there was a decent team there,” he explains.
“We had an opportunity of being competitive in the coming season, so, myself, Maurice Murnane, and PR [Padraig Regan], we had a chat and I had a chat with Richard [O’Leary], who I teach with in Cork and we decided we would have a go.
“We came together with Joe [Walsh, Club Chairman], John Nolan [PRO] and we said we would have a cut off of it. That’s how the appointment came about. Being off for the summer is good.
“Richard as I mentioned, he is teaching with me, he is strength and conditioning coach as well, so I have him up and down with me. The lads here, Maurice and PR, you have the club help behind you as well.
“Maurice Fitzgerald has been fantastic as well, in terms of the training sessions and any problems we have he will have it sorted out for you. So look there’s plenty of work to go round for everyone.
“It’s completely different, obviously, everybody would still love to be playing, it’s great to be involved, great to be involved with Kilmoyley and we have enjoyed it so far.
“But, look all we have done so far is to get ourselves in line to have a cut at the county final and that’s the big prize.”
The path to that final has been interesting to say that least. Starting off slowly and picking up steam along the way.
“I think we were showing steady signs of progress,” Brick agrees.
“We were unlucky in the first game against Lixnaw. Then you come into the game against Ballyheigue we had a slow start, but we showed good character. We came out against Crotta, a really slow start, really up against it at half-time. I think that’s really where the signs of progress came in, in that game.
“The lads again showed good character and pride, and, hurled really well, and, came out with a hard fought victory. So, I suppose it was the second half of the Crotta game really is where things started to kick into action.
“Character and workrate and pride in the jersey. We have trained hard so far this year, the lads have put in a fierce commitment, and, that honesty and workrate showed through, especially in the second half against Crotta and again the last day against Ballyduff.
“They [the younger players] have really stood up they have fierce commitment in training and there’s an honesty about the panel. Every fellow goes out to do his best. So you have a good solid group there.”
When you’ve been as successful as Brick has over the years in finals you get a good idea of what it takes to win one.
“A lot of times in a final it can be guys that might be not in the limelight every day that can have a massive impact on a final,” he explains.
“It’s very important to play the match, what it is rather than be caught up on the occasion and before you know it it’s half time or the game is over and you haven’t actually played the game.
“So, I suppose it’s to play the game rather than the occasion is the big thing. At that stage [dressing room], all of the preparation will be done, in terms of getting the team ready to go. Its just a case of bringing it on the day, and, to play the game, not the occasion.”
John Meyler’s return to the Kilmoyley fold has been much commented upon in the last couple of weeks of course. “John is fantastic,” Brick says. “He was here from ‘01 to ‘04 when we won four in a row. He has come back subsequently, so, we just wanted to freshen things up, have a different voice for a session or two so I rang John and there was never a problem.
“It’s great to have him around, even, just his presence alone is positive.”
As for the opposition? “Lixnaw were in the county final last year, went to a replay, so they are obviously favourites going into the game,” Brick says somewhat unsurprisingly (when does a manager ever fail to talk up the opposition?).
“We met them in the first round, they turned us over, so look, we will be going in Sunday to put our best foot forward, and, to have a real rattle off it. They are a serious team, they have got some really top class players, but we will be focusing on ourselves hoping to give a good account of ourselves in the final.
“All teams in North Kerry know each other very well, you are not going to have too many surprise factors, it’s going to be fifty / fifty, as you say.
“Going on form Lixnaw would probably be favourites.”