Two captains, leading from the front

OTHER than that both are forwards, about the only thing DJ Carey and Alan Browne have in common is they will captain Kilkenny and Cork in tomorrow's All-Ireland final.

Carey's club, Young Irelands from Gowran, has never had a winning captain, whereas Browne is following a proud tradition of eight Blackrock men with the distinction. But as hurlers, he would be the first to acknowledge that Carey is in a different league.

Browne never denied he has to work hard on his hurling and that honest approach has benefited him. Over the years he has contributed some vital goals, through his strength and his courage, in throwing himself around packed goalmouths.

In his professional life, he is a director of the auctioneering firm, of Cahalane & Skuse aside from being a Cork football legend in Cork, Niall Cahalane once hurled for Blackrock.

Browne's qualifications were gained at the expense of his place in the Cork championship team in 1999. Sacrifices had to be made just like his brothers; Richard before him, and John now.

DJ Carey's exploits are now celebrated in his own video. But, aside from that and a multiplicity of commercial endorsements, he remains an unassuming individual, genuinely modest about his achievements. Likewise, Browne is a perfect role model.

For him, this final is totally different to 1999. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is captain; just simply that he didn't start in any game of that campaign (but played as a sub in all of them). At the time, he was finishing a course in estate management in Wales.

"The main thing was that we won and I got to play my part. Myself and Kevin Murray (the only other substitute introduced) often said we played an important part in that game. We scored a point each Cork won by a point!"

Carey recalls the final as a disaster in terms of the weather. And, he didn't score. "Our preparations were good up to the final and we were going well for 60/65 minutes. Then, Cork came back into it. They had the bit between their teeth at the end. It was as simple as that. They put their heads down and went for broke.

We didn't finish Cork off when we were ahead. You have to take your chances when they come because they'll be taken at the other end and that's what happened that day!"

Browne makes the point that it's difficult to draw comparisons because of the changes in both teams: "I'm sure the likes of John Gardiner, Setanta and Ronan Curran aren't thinking of '99. They want to make their own piece of history," he adds.

What happened four years ago is totally forgotten.

Carey's not in the least surprised at the progress made by Cork, knowing that the action they took at the end of last year gave them a huge incentive. "They sorted out things the only way possible they went and put their heads on the block. When you have that sort of spirit you have the makings of a very good team. Nobody will doubt the hurling ability of any Corkman that goes on the field, past, present or future."

Neither of the two captains admits to feeling additional pressure in their roles. Browne says that once he leads the team on to the field and goes up for the toss, he will be no different from any of the other players on the team. Carey laid special emphasis on the importance of having the right psychological approach. "We have prepared as hard as we could. Now, we have to get our own heads right.

"Just because we have more experience than them doesn't mean we are any less nervous."