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Éire Óg experience can tell against Ennistymon’s young guns

HAVING emerged from completely contrasting starting blocks, Éire Óg and Ennistymon have also hand differing preparations in the lead-up to this first time final pairing. Of course, having underwhelmed in their relentless pursuit of the Jack Daly, the only surprise about Éire Óg’s 15 year breakthrough last November was that it hadn’t come sooner such was their potent line-up on paper. However, what hasn’t been a surprise is that the Townies are determined to make up for lost time by easing through this year’s championship to maintain their perfect nine match winning championship record. Even more impressively, they have almost seamlessly smoothed over the absence of Conall Ó hAiniféin, David Reidy, Nathan Murray, Eimhin Courtney and Dara Walsh, a remarklable feat in itself considering their contributions to that title-winning journey in 2021. Ennistymon meanwhile looked to have missed the boat in 2018 as for all their underage dominance over the past decade, the North Clare Magpies increasingly looked as if …

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Malone lending his experience to exciting young talent

For any guest passing through the Falls Hotel reception last Thursday evening, they would have been forgiven for thinking that they were witnessing more of a casualty ward than a press night. After all, with injured players Cathal Malone (groin), Sean O’Driscoll (quad) and Kevin Hehir (knee) either limping or on crutches, it seemed as if the interview process was more akin to a therapy session. Even Club President Kieran Crowe is eagerly-awaiting his hip replacement operation only two days after the county final. The Galway native and Garda journeyman actually played for the Ennis Faughs in 1957 but was first stationed in Ennistymon in 1969 and aside from brief stints elsewhere has been a community fixture ever since and has been an integral part of the club’s development. “I just feel that if we could win one, we could stay at the top for a while.” began the 87-year-young president. “You look at the likes of Miltown and Kilmurry …

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Sacrifices are tough, says Éinne, but winning makes it worthwhile

Although still a young man Eínne O’Connor has a huge amount of experience, experience he feels is valuable when looking to win a second Jack Daly. “Firstly I love playing football and I love playing for Éire Óg. We’ve had loads of tough defeats. I lost four quarter-finals in a row so that was extremely difficult to take. Last year I felt a lot of pressure to win because of those defeats and when we had huge success with U-21 which added more pressure especially when we weren’t transferring that to the Senior ranks.” Eínne spent four years in Athlone IT and played Sigerson for those four years. He is now at GMIT doing a Masters in Strength and Conditioning. So he is well placed to discuss what it takes to win. “Firstly you have to prepare right, both physically and mentally, eat right, sleep right. It’s all part of the modern game. We are drilled by Paul and the …

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New blood has invigorated Magpies, says stalwart Healy

Such has been the huge turnover of players in the past few seasons that when Ennistymon take to the field on Sunday, there is likely to only be four survivors from the 19 that contested the club’s first ever senior decider in 2018. To put things in even clearer perspective, take out those four and the remaining eleven would struggle to match the evergreen Lawrence Healy’s vast experience in what is his 24th season playing adult football. The versatile defender, who also starred for Clare between 2006-2013, is almost taken aback at the ease of assimilation for Ennistymon’s bright new crop of teenage talent this year but also feels it’s that fresh injection of energy and enthusiasm which has catapulted the North Clare side back into a senior showdown. “The turnover from the last final is huge but I guess these younger players have consistently played at such a high level, winning minor As, playing for their county and contesting …

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Talty tuned in to Éire Óg’s relentless work ethic

Philip Talty is a gifted footballer be it playing soccer with Avenue Utd or Gaelic Football with Éire Óg. One of the most skilful players on a field, he is one of the most hard working players too. “It’s all about honesty of effort, you have to work harder than the opposition to be successful. It really is that simple. You have to work your socks for sixty minutes and the rest will look after itself. “If you don’t work for Paul you don’t play for Paul. The defensive side is just as important to me as the attacking side. We have to help the defence out as much as possible. Turnovers are as valuable as a score” For such a young man Talty seems totally focused and driven. “Success is so important. We set our stall out at the very first training session this year to retain Jack Daly and we are only one game away from doing so. …

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Sean still kicking every ball on sideline for Ennistymon

From proudly leading his native side behind the Tulla Pipe Band in Ennistymon’s first ever senior decider in 2018 to now being a waterboy on the sideline, it’s been an understandably frustrating transition for the injured Sean O’Driscoll. Tearing a quad in Ennistymon’s final Cusack Cup game just three weeks before the championship throw-in, what initally seemed an injury that would prevent him from competing in the group stages unfortunately turned out to be more of a longer term issue as repeated attempts to ramp up his recovery have all proven futile. Contrast that with Ennistymon’s remarkable run through the championship hurdles and it’s clearly mixed emotions for the former captain. “I’m a terrible spectator. I have been on the sideline doing the water and I’m kicking every ball and I just know that some player will turn around and tell me to shut up at some stage during the game as I just can’t help it. “Unfortunately I’ve been …

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Double jobbing Shane glad to be able to influence outcome

Twelve months ago Shane Daniels was, as he put it himself, “a bag of nerves.” A year on from patrolling the line as a selector he finds himself not only back playing but playing between the posts of all places. “Last year I could barely eat, I was a complete bag of nerves. Playing is so much easier because when you are playing you feel you can do something to influence the outcome but as a selector you’re practically kicking every ball as if it was the last ball. You’d be shattered after a match on the line” he laughs. “Seriously though it has been a huge change. I never envisaged being back playing at Senior Level let alone playing in goal but a situation arose and here at this great club it’s all about putting your shoulder to the wheel.” Entering into the County Final Shane has yet to concede a goal in 300 minutes of action, an incredible …

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‘To be honest, we have a lot of faith in these young lads’

Despite the large injection of youth over the past few years, there is a mutually beneficial respect and bond between Ennistymon’s players and management that has seen the stars align to reach only the club’s second ever senior decider. Getting the management band back together from that 2018 debut decider has been the work of manager Mark Shanahan who along with the likes of Brendan Rouine and coach Ger Quinlan have admirably opted to grasp the nettle and blood as many of their underage stars as possible. That policy was perhaps was justified by the almost incredulous feats of defiance in their epic semi-final victory over Kilmurry Ibrickane that went all the way to extra-time and penalties. “There is probably no easy way of summing that game up but it’s only in tests like that that you really see the character of players.” admitted Shanahan who is in his third stint as manager of his native club. “Kilmurry Ibrickane threw …

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