Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rebel ‘keeper Ant goes back to square one
MENTION his senior Championship debut for Cork and Anthony Nash smiles a little through gritted teeth. “Thanks,” he laughs.
Nash was 22 when opportunity knocked against Waterford because Donal Og Cusack was banned in the Semple-gate fall-out.
The Rebels leaked five goals, though that had nothing to do with the new man between the posts. Nash was praised for his display after Cork lost by only three points.
“The whole thing was a bit of a blur, really,” he said. “The only experience I had before that was the under-21s, and the step up was like stepping out of a car and into a Formula One race.
“The Waterford forward line they had was incredible. There was a lot said in the build-up and I hadn’t experienced that before. But I used it as an experience and always wanted to get back into goals.
“Fortunately I got back in in 2012. I’d use the experience of that day, but I wouldn’t think about it too much.”
Nash added: “I was in a difficult situation.
“It’s hard for a goalkeeper to break into a team. You need an injury or a dip in form or you need to excel yourself.
“Obviously
Donal Og at the time was one of the best in Ireland, if not the best. I always wanted to play but there were times I wondered would I ever.
“If you look at Cork hurling over the decades, you have Martin Coleman senior originally, then you had Ger Cunningham and Donal
Og, so there were a lot of goalkeepers that it went by.
“But that’s the way it is. If you’re the second best goalkeeper, you’re the second best goalkeeper. You just have to learn to take it.
“But it was a long time ago and it’s the more recent years I’d be thinking about.”
Nash has earned the right to be talked about in the same breath as the trio that went before him, even if he’s still waiting for his first All-ireland title. The Kanturk man has become such a vital part of the Rebel tactical approach with his puck out strategy, his leadership and his organisational skills.
Few expected the Rebels to storm through Munster but Nash said: “I’m delighted with the way things have gone so far this year.
“We worked very, very hard over the winter, as we did last year. If I could put my finger on it, it’d be brilliant.
“But in the League we put in a few consistent performances.”