Cooper made for final bow

Paul Brennan says that despite Colm Cooper having played just a bit-part so far in this campaign, the Gooch could still have something huge to offer

IN February 2013 a Dr Crokes pitched up at Semple Stadium to take on the Leinster champions in an All-Ireland Club semi-final and found themselves on the wrong end of a four-point loss to Ballymun Kickhams. Despite the presence of names like Philip McMahon, James McCarthy, Davy Byrne and Dean Rock on the Ballymun team sheet the result that day was regarded in the main as an upset. After all Dr Crokes weren’t exactly light in the inter-county department either, and by the end of March that year Colm Cooper, Eoin Brosnan, Fionn Fitzgerald, Johnny Buckley and Kieran O’Leary would have played National League with Kerry.

Fast forward six years to the day and seven of that starting Dr Crokes team were on starting duty again in Thurles, this time against Leinster champions Mullinalaghta, and the expectation was even greater that the Kerry and Munster champions would be successful. That aforementioned Kerry quintet are still very much part of the Dr Crokes team and squad, although Cooper and Brosnan have had to make do with cameo roles throughout much of the county and provincial championship campaigns.

At 39 years of age it’s reasonable that Brosnan wouldn’t be leaned upon to be a mainstay of the team, but for Cooper it has to be frustrating that after starting the early rounds of the county championship that he hasn’t been able to force his way back into the team since the third round loss to Kerins O’Rahillys last September. Even last Saturday Gooch was just the third Crokes substitute to enter the action, and that in the 51st minute with his team five points up and cruising to the All-Ireland final on March 17.

What a team and club like Mullinalaghta wouldn’t give for a Colm Cooper – even an Eoin Brosnan – to be among their ranks and, yet, here is one of the most talented Gaelic footballers ever, at 35 years of age, not able to break back into his club team. But look at what the Dr Crokes full-forward line have been doing and it’s perhaps a little easier to see why Cooper finds himself where he is.

Kieran O’Leary and Tony Brosnan each scored four points from play last Saturday and

David Shaw chipped in with three from play. In the Munster Final win over Milltown Malbay that trio scored 1-4 from play between them; in the semi-final victory over St Finbarrs it was 1-8 from play; and against Moyle Rovers in the provincial quarter-final they combined for 2-3 (from play) of Crokes total.

In the county final win over Dingle it was six points and in the game before that, against Kerins O’Rahillys, they kicked 10 points between them. And that’s not accounting for the 16 free kicks Brosnan – the man who displaced Cooper in the team last year – has converted across those six matches.

It’s impossible to say what Cooper himself might have contributed to the cause and the scoreboard in that time, but with O’Leary, Shaw and Brosnan in such rich form the management are clearly working along the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ mantra.

As for Cooper claiming a starting jersey in the half forward line – he did, after all, wind down his Kerry days as a no.11 of some note – it’s equally hard to make a strong case for dropping any of the incumbents from 10 through to 12. Wing-forwards Micheal Burns and Brian Looney bring a particular direct-running game at pace that has never really been a feature of Cooper’s game, which leaves Gavin O’Shea’s centre-forward jersey the only one that Gooch might realistically target. On all obvious metrics O’Shea is, arguably, the weakest of the six starters, but that is not to say he is a weak link. As a no.11 his scoring rate isn’t particularly prolific, but in a team that produces scores from every outfield line he doesn’t have to be. He’s not a brilliant tackler either, but neither was that the strongest part of Cooper’s game. What O’Shea does bring to the team is mobility and clever movement and decoy running and the ability to link the play from the defence to attack with an alacrity that just isn’t in Cooper’s locker any more. For the style of game Crokes are playing right now – a fast counter-attacking game – O’Shea’s ranginess and mobility seems to be a better fit that Cooper’s more deliberate style when he plays that quarterback-type role.

Of course, that’s not to say Cooper still hasn’t a huge part to play in Crokes quest for a second All-Ireland title in three years. If ever a player was made for Croke Park and the occasion of an All-Ireland final it’s Gooch. Rewind two years ago and recall, first, his assassin’s goal against Slaughtneil in the final and, second, how he controlled the final quarter of the game as Crokes played ‘keep ball’ against the 14 men from Derry. It was a Cooper masterclass in goal poaching and calling on every fibre of experience picked up over a career of clutch performances.

Cooper won’t start next month’s All-Ireland final against Corofin, but he will absolutely finish that game. And he will quite likely replace Gavin O’Shea around the three-quarter mark. O’Shea has more often than not been the first Crokes forward called ashore, sometimes because of below par performances, and sometimes because he has done his day’s work very well.

Either way Colm Cooper will play his part against Corofin and there’s every likelihood it will be a crucial part. Through the Munster Championship and last weekend against Mullinalaghta Cooper made his cameo appearances but didn’t need to pull anything out of the fire. That may not be the case on St Patrick’s Day against the reigning champions and a team that won’t flinch when the fat is in the fire. Cooper won’t flinch either in that situation and whether Crokes are a few scores down or have a small lead to protect there’s no other player you’d want in your side in that situation.

In The Kerryman report of Dr Crokes’ County SFC Round 3 win over An Ghaeltacht this writer wrote: “Central to their victory was the contribution of Tony Brosnan...who may not have even started but for the late withdrawal of Colm Cooper from the team, the Gooch apparently suffering a bout of illness. Brosnan’s contribution was a goal and 10 points from play, and another four converted frees, and the sort of display that could put Cooper under pressure to regain his starting place. Alongside Brosnan in the full-forward line David Shaw scored four points from play and Kieran O’Leary helped himself to 2-2 from play...”

There’s no doubt on whose shoulders the future of this Dr Crokes team rests and it’s not Colm Cooper.

Over the next four weeks Corofin will make their plans to deal with Shaw and Brosnan from the start, but you can be sure their defenders will take a sharp intake of breath when they see Cooper come on to the field when the game is there to be won and lost.

We’re not writing anyone’s career obituary just yet, but on what will most likely be his last Croke Park appearance it would be fitting, and unsurprising, if Colm Cooper were to write the headlines once more.