Back of the net: Men's Sheds, teamwork, and the end of 'man up' mentality

There is a sea change afoot when it comes to mental health. From initiatives like Men's Sheds and national and local club sports, barriers are coming down and men are no longer dismissing their emotional wellbeing, says Noel Baker 

12th February 2023 XX: Noel Baker : Ciara McDonnell : men's health in Weekend Clonakilty United's Tony O'Connell in action against Baltimore Crabs. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

It's into the second half in a Championship Cup quarter-final and with Clonakilty United one-down at home to Aultagh Celtic and about to take a corner, geology intervenes. Amid the crashing and banging of Sunday morning soccer, a small rock has been uncovered in the penalty area. Strikers become groundsmen, the offending article is tossed to one side and a few chunks of turf are jammed into the hole. The joys.

For recently-formed Clonakilty United, it's a minor obstacle on their cult-club-in-the-making journey. Their oldest player is just 23, their kit is modelled on that of south London outfit Dulwich Hamlet, and their sponsor really catches the eye - the Movember moustache, resplendent in pink. It is a visual representation of the team's ethos, a focus on both physical and mental health, driven by their own experiences as young people emerging from a pandemic, dealing with all life can throw at you.