Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
After our dealings in Australia it was obvious Brendan could Hackett with teams at all levels
IT is 30 years since myself and many other county players competed in trials for the chance to represent Ireland in the three Test series against Australia.
A trip to the other side of the world was, for a young lad, the stuff of dreams. Not surprisingly, the trials were very physical and ferociously competitive.
It was like winning the footballing Lotto back at a time when the economy wasn’t doing well and soccer was at fever pitch after Italia ‘90.
We all knew what was at stake to get on that plane.
Eugene Mcgee was our manager and he was very well prepared. He had a surprisingly good attention to detail. When the squad was finally announced, it was a surprise that Eugene selected Brendan Hackett as our team coach.
Brendan was young and very different to what many of us had been used to. In hindsight, he was way ahead of his time.
It was with great fondness and admiration last Sunday that I watched Brendan enjoy arguably his greatest day, as he presided over Ballymun Kickhams’ stunning display to win the Dublin senior title.
Thirty years earlier, he was basically pushed aside as team coach within days of arriving Down Under.
l felt his drills, which I hadn’t seen before, were exceptional. But we had a warm-up game against the Aussi e s b efore the f ullblooded three Tests and we got the most horrendous, humiliating beating you could imagine.
The Aussies made di r t of u s . Th e y laughed at us all the way through it.
A very serious meeting took place and our experienced players – especially Ja c k O’ S h e a , Ji m Stynes, Bomber
Liston, Pat O’byrne,
Noel Roach and our excellent captain Robbie O’malley – felt very strongly that a different approach was necessary to mix it with these Aussie brutes.
The players insisted that Mcgee and Stynes take a much mo re h a n d s - o n approach, with a much greater emphasis on physicality in training. This was three or four days into tour – so it was anything but easy on a young coach.
The following week in Melbourne, we gave one of the best-ever series performances and stuffed the Aussies to set up a 2-1 series triumph.
Brendan held his head impressively. He was so dignified and respectful, his conduct and support to everyone in the background was exemplary. You could tell he absolutely loved his football and it stuck long in my memory.
It’s the reason why he has stayed involved so long. He has never flinched in his beliefs, despite knock-backs along the way. Four years ago I watched down fr om Croke Park’s commentary area when the Kildare minors he managed were mauled by 22 points by Kerry.
l didn’t think the man would rise again. But he did.
He is 36 years running his own fitness business, has a Masters degree i n Sports Psycholog y and an honours degree i n Physical Education.
Brendan Hackett has done it the hard way, but he has with real dignity. l was thrilled to see the sense of accomplishment on his face on Sunday.
Boy, has he earned it.
Brendan held his head impressively, so dignified..