Second shot at All-Ireland for Brennan

THE opportunity to play in an All-Ireland final is a goal for every player that has laced a pair of football boots.

Getting to play in two, in the space of a handful of months, is quite an achievement and for St Colmcille’s clubman Ben Brennan there is no let-up ahead of Saturday’s Junior decider against Kerry.

Brennan captained the Cille’s to the Intermediate Club final against Westport, only to suffer an agonising single-point defeat last February. However, less than six months later he is back in another All-Ireland decider.

‘I hope we win this time. It would be a pity to lose a second one - that wouldn’t be a good record,’ the 25-year-old said.

He is one of six Cille’s players in the panel, a great representation for the east Meath outfit.

‘It is great for the club to have so many involved with the team, not to forget Graham Reilly who this year captained the seniors. It says a lot for the coaches and the coaching that was done in the club at underage level over the years.’

And while some players complain about the burgeoning training regime that amateur players have to endure, as well as a narrowing close season that seems to get shorter by the year, Brennan has no such qualms.

‘I haven’t really had any break from 2016 as we were straight into the Leinster club campaign following the intermediate final. Then winning Leinster and going all the way to the All-Ireland final, this year’s season was up and running before the last one ended, but I’m not complaining.

‘I really enjoy it. I’d either be in the gym or out kicking football, so I rather be out playing.

‘The club is probably first for a lot of lads, but it is good to get a run out in the county jersey. It is also a window of opportunity for players. Ratoath’s Cian O’Brien was on the juniors a few years back and made it to the senior squad.

‘We also got to play in Croke Park in the Leinster final against Louth and that was massive. It gives lads confidence and the experience of playing in Croke Park is great.’

Meath weren’t at their best when overcoming a stubborn Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final and they’ll know that a repeat of that display against Kerry could prove disastrous.

‘Maybe a few lads took their eye off the ball and were thinking about an All-Ireland final, but you were never going to get anything easy in Kilkenny,’ Brennan continued.

‘I know they are not a footballing county as such, but there are lads there putting in an effort and they are not just going to roll over. Everyone thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but we found out that it wasn’t.

‘A few choice words at halftime got us ready for the second half and got us over the line. You learn a lot more, though, from it being put up to you and things not going your way.’