Heroes & hopefuls

IT'S LATE November, chilly night in Gowran, another evening of drudge, of trudge through the sludge after more weeks of heavy rain, for 23 of the parish's finest. But no one's complaining.

The club, Young Irelands, from one of the smallest parishes in one of the smallest counties in the country, are still in the championship, facing the might of multiple All-Ireland-title winners Birr on Sunday.

Yes, Kilkenny is one of the smallest and less-populated counties in Ireland, making their achievements nationally far more impressive than those of either Cork or Tipperary.

Two of those doing the rounds of the dimly-lit flooded field are two of the best-known hurlers in the modern game, DJ Carey and Charlie Carter.

Now it is an unfortunate fact of Charlie's career that whenever the names of Young Irelands' terrible twins are mentioned, he will always be runner-up, a little like the great Paddy Barry of Cork, whose own outstanding career was overshadowed by Christy Ring.

Nevertheless, on this occasion, both would like to see the spotlight shifted, to the 13, 19, 29 others who make up the full Young Irelands panel.

Like many small units across the country, the same surname crops up again and again. Most prominent are the Carters, with four, three of whom started in the recent county final win over Dunnamaggin which started the club off on their current run, a fourth seeing early action as a sub.

They are all related but not, as Charlie explains, all brothers.

"The three boys are first-cousins of mine, as are the two Fitzgeralds, Cathal and James."

Six guys from one extended family, and, in the scheme of things, each vitally important to the Young Irelands cause. Everyone is expected to deliver and as Charlie himself explains, it's not always the big name making the biggest contribution. Cathal and James, corner-back and wing-forward respectively, are the more experienced of the five cousins, and each is a solid fixture.

The three Carter brothers however, have played a crucial role in the club's advance this year.

"They were always good hurlers, great skill, but Ollie and Davy are really after strengthening up this year," says Charlie.

"Ollie especially has done a lot of work. Martin was always hardy, but his hurling has come on a lot. Besides the three boys, the rest of the lads are standing up and being counted too. The emphasis one time was on DJ and myself to get the scores, not any more. All the lads are weighing in with a score or two, which is a great help.

"Of all the years, I'm not scoring as much with the club as I normally would, maybe I'm doing a bit more work out the field, away from the full-forward line. As long as the scores are coming and we keep winning, I don't mind that."

It's not often the lesser lights on the Young Irelands side get to shine on the national stage. Usually, and again this year, as Kilkenny won yet another All-Ireland senior hurling title, it's just the two lads in the spotlight. Now, county senior champions for only the second time in the club's 50-year history, all the others come into focus. Among them goalkeeper and captain Martin Carey.

One of three brothers (Jack and DJ, centre and full-forward respectively are the others), Martin did have a taste of the big-time himself, sub-keeper on the 2000 All-Ireland-winning Kilkenny team.

However, he lost that slot this year and now appreciates more than most this opportunity for the lads like himself to strut their stuff on the national stage.

"It's everybody's dream to play with their county, especially in a hurling county like Kilkenny. But because it's so successful, and because there are so many playing, not everybody is going to get that opportunity, so that when you do get the chance, albeit with your club, to represent the county, it's a major honour for all the players."

And how are they reacting to it?

"They're enjoying it, they're loving every minute of it. Since the county final, every game we win is another bonus to them, and they're playing out of their skin at the moment."

Certainly the atmosphere is relaxed, the usual club banter as fellas make their appearance in a variety of working uniforms. Not too many collar-and-tie men in this lot, a typically blue-collar rural club, hardy men taking it all in their stride.

"It is relaxed, I suppose we don't look like a team tonight going into a Leinster final," Martin agrees.

"When you start winning a few games, start playing well, everyone performing within themselves, you can relax into it. Winning your county championship is the major thing, when you win that the pressure is off you to an extent, you can go out and hurl with a bit of freedom."

Pressure off? In Kilkenny?

"Well, you do have to represent your county, but we're winning games, and when you're doing that, you're relaxed. And the more big games you play together, the more settled you become too.

"The pressure will be there on the day of the game, no question about that, the nerves will start later in the week, but we're still in training, we're coming in here every night we're asked, running around in the muck, and everyone is enjoying it."

The man cracking the whip is John Brennan, himself a former player with Young Irelands (looks like he could still fall in, if needed), and he confirms that last statement. "Ah, a great bunch," he laughs, "can be a bit contrary at times, but sure can't we all! We get a great response, six lads in Dublin, a few lads injured or away, but everyone's here now that can be here."

That togetherness, that team spirit, is hugely important to success, and one of the tests of management is to harness that to best effect.

A NOTHER and even more delicate test is trying to get the balance right, especially in a team where there are two such huge national stars. In both instances, John and his co-selectors, Brian Farrell and Corkman Denis Philpott, have got it spot on.

"Every single one of the panel is crucial to us. DJ and Charlie are top-class players, but they aren't doing this on their own, everyone has a job to do. If the full-back line aren't doing their job, the full-forward line can do what they like but the chances are you won't win.

"We tried to balance them as well as we could this year, and it's working well at the moment. Jack Carey and Ollie Carter are having the best year they ever had with the club, they've grown up a bit this year.

"Ollie especially, he's done a lot of work, playing midfield and hasn't been taken out of it once I'd say. We put Jack to centre-forward about three or four months ago, and he's done very well there for us, Davy (Carter) is left-full-forward, a very skilful hurler, very fast, knows where the ball is, and what to do with it when he gets it. They're all doing very well, all the lads, even the guys we've brought in off the bench."

They have too, they're now a better, more mature team than that which won the first senior title, in 1996, and then got blown away by Wexford champions Rathnure in their first Leinster club outing.

That loss was avenged in comprehensive fashion last time out and now, late November, just a couple of club hardies watching from the shelter of the club-house wall, Young Irelands are preparing for their first Leinster final.

For DJ Carey, a far cry from a couple of months ago, when thousands gathered in Nowlan Park to watch his and Kilkenny's preparations.

"Yeah it is, but everyone's dream here is to be training for a Leinster final. While there is a stark contrast, and this isn't inter-county hurling, it's as big as any other Leinster final, for ourselves.

"We've grown up together, most of us around the same age, and those that aren't are probably related in one way or another to someone else. Small parish, and that's what club hurling is all about. This is a massive occasion for us, and you can see from the turnout tonight how important it is to everyone. We're not killing ourselves at this stage, it's just a matter of maintaining the fitness we've built up over the year, we're not trying to improve on that. Just get together, get out and keep things going. It's marvellous for the club, marvellous for the parish, we're just hoping things go well for us."

Hoping, but it's a massive test. Perennial Offaly champions Birr, All-Ireland club championship specialists, defending their Leinster and All-Ireland titles.

John Brennan is only too aware of the challenge facing his charges.

"They have 10 or 11 county players, but we're there with a shout. We're not afraid of them, we'll have a go, take them on and hope for the best.

"We have our big men too, Charlie and DJ, Pat O'Neill is involved again now, injured for the most of the year, comes on and off for us, but he's a very experienced man in the dressing-room. We'll be there at the finish, I assure you of that."

Ah yes, Pat O'Neill, the big man with the touch of genius, dancer's feet and sorcerer's hands. While the focus will naturally fall on DJ and Charlie, it could well be Pat or Ollie, Jack or Davy, James or Cathal, Tom Drennan, Dick Carroll or one of the Martins, doing the devil on Birr.

In the club championship, any man can become a hero.