Tubridy points Munster into Railway Cup final

Although Doonbeg’s David Tubridy scored 0-6 in Munster’s Railway Cup semi-final win over Leinster last Sunday, there isn’t much chance of it going to his head. Laois man Cahir Healy was Tubridy’s marker and the corner-back managed to sally up field and score Leinster’s only goal. 
“I’ve heard a lot about that,” Tubridy laughed, talking to The Clare Champion this week.
Gary Brennan played at midfield, alongside Seamus Scanlon, while Miltown’s Gordon Kelly was on the bench.
Seven Division 4 players started for the winners, while the Clare, Limerick and Waterford full-forward line scored 1-10 of Munster’s 1-16 total. Gary Hurney and Ian Ryan joined Tubridy in the full-forward line.
“It was like playing Division 1 football. The pace of the game was totally different to what I’m used to. It was a great experience. There was great ball coming in. When you’ve Paul Kerrigan and Paddy Kelly kicking you in the ball, they just know what to do. They’re great passers of the ball. Players like Graham Canty, Paudie Kissane and Tomás O’Sé; they’d find you no problem. It’s a different game,” David Tubridy added.
Playing with and against some of the best footballers in the country was something that the Doonbeg man really enjoyed. “We go to play against the best of the best. I think Leinster had seven Dublin fellas out there last week. We mightn’t get to play against them for four or five years, depending if we get promoted. Everybody was sound. It’s just like any team. They’re down to earth fellas,” he said, acknowledging that it was good for confidence to mix it so effectively at this level.
“I think it’s just about belief. If we can get that into us this year and hopefully get out of Division 4, it would be a massive boost for Clare football. We’re good enough to get out of Division 4 but Limerick will be a big test for us the next day. We just have to concentrate on that and get out of there,” he said.
Munster trained just once together before playing Leinster and they trained on Wednesday night in Mallow in preparation for Sunday’s Railway Cup final against Ulster at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. There was speculation that the game could have been played in Cooraclare, the event sponsor Martin Donnelly’s home club but it was eventually fixed for Armagh. Tubridy is disappointed that the venue isn’t closer to home. 
“Even half way would have been great. There was a lot of people here from home who would have gone if it had been on in Portlaoise or somewhere like that. I’m not too sure how many will go now but I’d say the father (Tommy) will travel anyway!” he quipped.
Of course playing a Railway Cup final in Cooraclare would have been preferable from a Munster standpoint.
“I’ve no doubt you’d get four or five thousand at the game if it was in Cooraclare. Everybody would be at it. They’d come out to see the top men playing. But we just have to battle on and try and get the win,” he said.
While less than 1,000 people paid in to see the Munster v Leinster semi-final, Tubridy is adamant that players are very keen that the inter-provincial tournament lives on.
“Players are mad to play. To get a Railway Cup medal would be unreal. I was talking to fellas who have played in three or four Railway Cup finals and haven’t won. There’s talk that this could be the last one played so it would be a special one to win,” the Doonbeg man maintains.
“I know all the players want to keep playing it but it’s up to the head men in the GAA to keep it going. If they market it better it would help. There’s a great following in the north. It’s a home game for Ulster and I’d say there could be a couple of thousand at the game,” Tubridy predicted.

Sunday’s final will throw-in at 2pm at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh. Extra time will be played if necessary.