Begley believes Treaty can lay early-season marker
AS a dual player for Limerick, Brian Begley knows how unusual it is for the bigger ball to get top billing for this afternoon’s double-header at the Gaelic Grounds.
But then, Kerry are the opposition for the McGrath Cup final and the sight of the famous green and gold dredges up one of the great regrets of Begley’s career with Limerick footballers.
Begley, who is a selector in Shannonside boss Billy Lee’s backroom team, was part of Liam Kearns’ squad that fateful afternoon in 2004 when Darragh Ó Sé rose above the crossbar to catch Eoin Keating’s 45 and deny Limerick a famous Munster title. Kerry won the replay, of course, and went on to win the All-Ireland.
‘The year before, we beat Cork for the first time in almost 40 years in the Championship. But everyone remembers that game and that catch. If we had won, who knows what a Munster title would have done for Limerick football at that point?’
Begley left the footballers following that season to concentrate solely on the hurlers, playing a starring role when Limerick upset Waterford in the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final.
‘I was always more associated with the hurlers, but I liked to play both. It was only when I was getting older, and I had a few problems with my knee and ankle, that I decided to focus solely on the hurling.’
He feels a dual mandate is almost impossible now. Gearóid Hegarty and Stephen Cahill are two accomplished footballers who have thrown their lot in with the hurlers this year.
‘Given the way it has gone with video analysis and strict plans and everything to follow, it’s probably only possible to play both codes at underage but once you get into senior, the demands are just too great,’ Begley says.
Having retired from club hurling after helping Mungret win the intermediate title in Limerick last year, Begley was sought out by Lee to become part of his management team.
There is more than a hint of youth in the Limerick side, currently without two of their most important players – Ian Ryan and Seánie Buckley – who are both recovering from long-term injuries.
The priority is to climb out of Division 4 of the National League but a rare piece of silverware this afternoon, and an even rarer victory over Kerry, would be a nice way to start the season.