Gene O’Driscoll proud of his three Rebels
Gene O’Driscoll wasn’t in Castleblayney to see it, but his ear was bent to the radio. Coach with Cork’s U21 footballers, he was otherwise engaged in a long-standing challenge game with Donegal. Any other time he would have been there. When you’ve two sons on a senior county team and another on the bench, what else but football would stop you? Kevin O’Driscoll’s introduction at half-time meant all three brothers were on the field for Cork seniors for the first time.
Their club Tadhg MacCartaighs commemorated the moment by issuing a post on their website: “This must surely be a record in Cork football having three brothers on the field of play at the same time and indeed was a very proud day for the O’Driscoll family and the Tadhg McCarthaigh club.”
Colm eventually made way for Michael Shields in the 51st minute but for those 16 minutes, a place in the record books was secured. Brian’s injury in last weekend’s Sigerson Cup final means the trick won’t be repeated in Ballyshannon tomorrow but Colm and Kevin take their places at right and left wing forward, respectively.
Gene looks at it both ways. As a Munster U21 and All-Ireland Club-winning coach. And, of course, as a father.
“When you’re in the mix you’re picking guys who are on form or delivering for you. Between the three of them, they must be producing the goods in training and that’s encouraging. Guys who are showing up in training will inevitably get games. Then, second, as a parent you would be proud of having three lads involved in the set-up. They all have individual qualities and contribute to the panel in different ways. To see them all called into action at once was great. But just to be involved in the panel is a great honour in itself.”
Brian’s progress through to the senior ranks has been plane sailing compared to his older siblings.
“Colm would have been a minor for two years and then he would have had three years with the U21 set-up, winning two All-Irelands and he got the man of the match in the 2009 final. He didn’t make it through then in the seniors so his development is a bit later.
“Kevin would have been the same, on the minors, and was on that All-Ireland winning team of 2009. He’s only starting to come through now maybe because of the different management structure.
“Brian’s progress has been a bit more straightforward: he’s come through as a minor, played U21 and made the transition that bit quicker.”
When Conor Counihan favoured totemic forces around the middle, the older O’Driscoll brothers found it difficult to make the breakthrough. But, like Brian, they possess the ability to alternate between defence and attack.
As Brian Cuthbert lays down a more defensively-minded strategy, the trio are vital cogs. Opposing manager tomorrow Rory Gallagher remarked on the early success of their system earlier this week: “If you look at soccer and basketball on a smaller scale a lot of teams are putting a lot people behind the ball now. I think that’s the approach Cork have taken and it has paid dividends so far.”
Gene says the small rural base in Caheragh has helped his sons in that regard. As he explains: “Coming from a smaller club and in a leading group of players, they would have had to carry the can a bit. They would have been used to playing in the backs as well as midfield and the forwards depending on where the need was greatest growing up through the under-age structures so that would be nothing new to them. If you were to go back to their UCC time, Kevin was playing in that defensive wing forward position as well. Brian did this year with UCC and we used him in that role with the minors and we have him in that role as an U21 as well. That’s one of the things they’ve grown up with and it’s probably a quality that is needed in the modern game, that you can adapt and be flexible.”
O’Driscoll senior believes their presence in the panel serves as hope for other footballers from junior and intermediate outfits in the county. “It gives fellas a bit of hope seeing we’re from a smaller club but there’s no reason why we can’t compete and make it. I know a lot of younger lads in our own club are being encouraged by the three lads. They’re saying ‘We’ve come through this process and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same’. It shows anybody that if they are willing to make the effort there is something there for you.”
