New Year comeback a struggle
JONNY COOPER admits it was a struggle to get back on track in terms of fitness and focus ahead of his seventh year with the Dubs seniors.
Now 28, the teak-tough Na Fianna defender has four All-ireland titles and seven Leinster titles under his belt but he had difficulties involved in returning to the grind.
“Coming back into it is probably the toughest times that I’ve had,” he revealed. “January... that’s probably from being more unfit and unfocused and having an up and down winter.
“During the year, then, we typically get an April mini-break as well. It can be a bit hard to cross over from that transition as well.
“Then you are building up from Leinster and into the All-ireland. It wasn’t like last year this time with the way the competition was set up as well, with the Super 8s and all.”
Cooper admits that he doesn’t spend his winter working hard on his fitness.
“No, to be honest I don’t,” he said. “I do whatever needs to be done with the club as far as they go and then after that I am putting the bag in the closet for a few months.
“You know lads are training and that does itch away at you a bit but experience allows you to time your run in a way and you know that going back in November may not be the best thing to do because you might feel a little bit heavy by March.”
Cooper admits his emotions have changed in All-ireland week from when he first won the Sam Maguire Cup in 2013.
“Certainly for me, over the last year or two, it’s been more about family and club and that kind of appreciation for the people who got me there.
“Whereas the first year or two was ‘me, I got there by myself’. You still get the internal buzz.”