TOM KENNA AND AMY MURPHY

An Tochar duo Tom Kenna and Amy Murphy took a little bit of encouragement to speak with us but when they did we asked them what it meant to their club to have a successful year last year.

Tom: “It has provided an awful amount of spirit around the club that was missing over the last few years, I think it was six years since the club last won a championship. It rejuvenated everyone, this year there’s an awful lot more positivity heading into the championship, even with the Intermediates. I know it’s only Junior C but there’s a little more buzz around the place. There are people coming back trying to cheer you and things like that and wanting everyone to do well.”

Amy: “There are more people coming back wanting to play the game as well. The year before last year the women didn’t even have a team and then it reformed. At the start there weren’t big numbers but as we started winning people started coming back. And now this year we’re going to build from last year. Not many people thought we could win but now that we did win numbers are going to rise.

“I think three years ago we won the cup and the league and then the next year we didn’t have a team so now that we won there’s a lot of positivity around the place.”

This being a personal achievement we asked the pair what it meant to them for their efforts to be recognised by the county board.

Tom: “It’s not just a personal effort, it’s a team effort, I couldn’t have done it without a lot of people pushing me towards it. But it is a great privilege to win player of the year. I’ll personally never win it again, I don’t know about Amy, but it’s one of those things you have to enjoy in the moment.”

Amy: “To know that people voted for you, it’s just nice to know. It drives you on to be even better for the next season.”

Tom only had to beat off other Junior C footballers, Amy was up against every other lady footballer in the county. What did that mean to her?

“Pretty amazing. There are so many other talented footballers in the county. I was quite shocked actually but I’m privileged that people actually voted for and got behind me. It just drives me on to be better in the next season and I’m delighted with the award.”

To 2017, what are the aims and dreams for both players?

Tom: “You won’t like my answer, I’m not playing football this year, I’m going abroad to work.” (We don’t mind your answer at all Tom, sure maybe you’ll win player of the year over there too. Best of luck.)

Amy: “For the club, certainly to win the county junior championship because we lost that this year. And then hopefully win the cup and the league. For the county to win the league and then, yeah, the championship as well, we’re striving for that.”

Just about as positive as you can get.