‘To win trophies with the lads you grew up with tops most other things because there is a bond between the lads that can never be broken’

ONE of Kerry’s emerging young talents, Diarmuid O’Connor, says a victory for Na Gaeil in Saturday’s All-Ireland Club JFC Final at Croke Park (3.15) would top anything he has already achieved in his burgeoning football career.

The 20-year-old, already the holder of two All-Ireland minor medals with the Kingdom and a starter in last September’s senior final replay defeat to Dublin, cannot wait to try and surmount the challenge of Wexford’s Rathgarogue/Cushinstown and bring national silverware to the Tralee club.

“I have two All-Ireland minor wins in Croke Park but winning with your club, if we achieve it, is special. To win trophies with the lads you grew up with tops most other things because there is a bond between the lads in our squad that can never be broken,” said O’Connor.

“It would be brilliant if we can go on and win in Croke Park for the club and for all those who have worked so hard for the club. This would be special for the lads who soldiered down in Division 5 (of the County

League), and now seeing us in an All-Ireland Final might be some sort of a payback.

“Every footballer growing up dreams about playing in Croke Park but to play with the lads you grew up with on the big stage and, knowing for a lot of them, it would be their only way of ever setting foot on that pitch at headquarters, makes it extra special.

“I am really looking forward to Saturday and running out with lads who are my best friends. It will be different for even Jack (Barry) and me because, in some cases, we will be playing with lads who we looked up to when we were playing underage in the club.”

O’Connor, whose extra-time point turned out to be the winning score, feels that Na Gaeil didn’t show their true colours in the All-Ireland semi-final epic with Mayo’s Kilmaine, and that there is huge scope for improvement in advance of the decider.

“I think we were a bit anxious approaching the semi-final in Ennis. I can assure you that we were taking no notice of the bookies’ odds. We knew that

Jack was not going to start but, in fairness to Dan O’Connor, he came in and had a great game, so we had great cover there. “We were a bit anxious and we were not sure what they had to offer and what way they would approach the game. On the day, it was probably a mix of Kilmaine being very good and Na Gaeil not playing as well as we can. “But Kilmaine were a savage side and you could tell that they had serious work done. I just heard afterwards that they had beaten Oughterard in a challenge match, so they were a quality side.

“I suppose we were not really at our peak, if we were to be honest about it. There are a lot of things that we need to work on and a lot of things that we were not happy with. If there was any complacency going into that game, and there should not have been, it is most definitely gone now.”

After playing 96 minutes for Na Gaeil, the 20-year-old, who is studying PE teaching through Irish in UCC, came on as a substitute for his college in their first round Sigerson Cup clash in Galway the very next day. Hardly an ideal situation for player, club or third level institution?

“It is a bit annoying that everything is happening at the same time but it would be worse if you were missing out on everything through injury,” admitted O’Connor.

“Once we are playing games, we are happy, but I suppose there are others who would believe that everything is a bit too rushed and probably needs readjusting. As players, we are used to playing in different competitions and we get used to it.

“It does place a lot of pressure on the body and it’s probably not ideal for recovery. But that is why you put the work in throughout the year to avoid the injuries. You have to make sure you do all the stretching, all your rehab and your prehab.

“Once you get the work done, you can handle games when they come thick and fast and, once you are winning, it is always less taxing on mind and body.”