Fear of failure driving Cushendall
He was confident before the 2007 semi-final against Loughrea as he was in 2009 when De La Salle’s blushes were saved by a monster Brian Phelan sideline cut that forced extra-time where the Munster champions prevailed.
No loss hit McManus as hard as that one.
“You learn to handle those things better and you learn to handle the occasions better but, hopefully, the closest thing I’ll ever feel to depression was when I came home from Parnell Park in February ’09. It took me weeks to get over that we weren’t coming to Croke Park on St Paddy’s. It’s great that hurling means that much to us.”
As it did in the same Donnycarney venue in 2000 when defending All-Ireland champions St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield built on an outrageous equaliser. As it did in Parnell Park two years previous when Wolfe Tones hit them hard and late.
But McManus is buoyed once more and he senses the team can break their semi-final hoodoo against Sarsfields in Navan today.
“I’ve always believed we would get there and the experiences I’ve had with the team, especially this season, reaffirm that. We’ve prepared very diligently. It’s been quite different to the other campaigns I was involved in.
“There’s been more of an emphasis on hurling and the style of play as opposed to the physical side of training, which is predominantly what was about in those other campaigns.
“We probably missed a trick or two on that front. We hope to focus more on the hurling because it’s hurling that will get you through in the end.” Loughgiel Shamrocks and Dunloy have shown Cushendall what can be done but Ulster champions face more hurdles than other provincial winners.
“This weekend marks 15 weeks since they beat Slaughtneil in an Ulster final.
“All-Ireland semi-finals are different because you win the first round of the championship in Antrim and you’re building momentum. You feel like you’re going well, you go into Ulster and three rounds of hurling and you feel like you’re flying. You win an Ulster final and then there’s four months of nothing. It’s nearly like you’re starting a pre-season and an All-Ireland semi-final is nearly like a match you’ve been preparing for the entire pre-season.
“The build-up is very different. A lot of our fellas have experienced that and I believe that will stand to us.
McManus will travel with his fiancée for six months following the end of Cushendall’s interest in the championship.
Antrim will miss the 27-year-old but he has put off a world trip since he was 17. Antrim’s demotion to the Christy Ring Cup had little to do with his decision. However, he despairs about the amount of finances ring-fenced for development of hurling in the country – “like a sausage in the sea” – and insists Antrim needs millions.
And he is adamant the reconstruction of Casement Park is vital to the hopes of the Saffron County being more than just a sleeping giant.
