Cronin ready for tcDonald challenge

LEINSTER rugby coach Matt Williams wrote a slogan for his players before Christmas. It read: DNFUJ. Do not f… up (in) January.

Nemo Rangers boss Billy Morgan could well chart the same on Monday morning, imploring his players not to mess it up again on St Patrick's Day against Crossmolina.

Nemo have suffered the heartache of two All-Ireland failures already.

Another is unthinkable.

Crossmolina's cool dude Kieran McDonald was conspicuous in his white boots and white socks against Dunshaughlin in the semi-final. But he mainly stood out because of his leadership on the forty and his contribution of six points. Nemo need no introduction to the bold McDonald who almost single-handedly destroyed them two years ago.

Martin Cronin has been handed the unenviable task of putting the shackles on the Mayo star on Monday. The Capwell defender knows only too well how talented his opposite number is: "He had a very good game that day.

I was switched on him in the second-half after a few others had marked him. But I did not have any great success either. He is one of their stronger players and this is something that I have got to get myself ready for. I have to get off on the right platform and take it from there. I have a job to do and that is to counteract him.

"He will be their playmaker. From a back's point of view you have to stop that. Croke Park suits forwards with its wide-open space but I will have to up the ante. It is a huge challenge for me personally and something that I will have to push myself for. There is no guarantee that I am going to play well, but there is no guarantee that he is going to excel either."

It is 16 years since Cronin walked through the gates of Nemo Rangers. Now going on 28, there is a lot of mileage on the clock. It is ironic too that he got his call up to the senior squad in 1994 the last time that the Cork champions brought home the Andy Merrigan Cup. However, the memento he received only serves as a symbol of what he has yet to achieve himself.

"I have a token medal from that win, but I did not play in the championship. I came into the squad as a minor. This is one medal that I would dearly love to win and now is the time. The opportunity does not come around too often. All-Ireland club medals are hard to come by," he says.

Of course Martin is not the only Cronin seeking All-Ireland gold next week. The colourful Alan, three years his brother's junior, will be one of their main target men. Shooter of the all-important goal against Errigal Ciarán, there surely is safety in numbers:

"Funny enough, we don't sit down and talk too much about the game," he admits. "I suppose everybody is different. The Kavanaghs will tell you the same. You like to think that you are doing something extra special for the team yourself and you plan it in your own quite way. Okay, a bit of slagging goes on between us, and that helps too. Criticism does come into play now and again, but that is healthy."

With the years of experience, also comes the pressure of the younger members looking up to Martin for leadership.

"I made a few mistakes in the semi-final, whether or not it was complacency I do not know. Some people put you down when you play bad, but it makes me mentally tougher. You must take it positively. It is part of the game.

"When you are considered to be one of the more mature fellows, you have to get back out there and rid it from your system. It is a lot easier to get consistency into your game over the years. And you have to keep up that level for players coming through.

"You motivate yourself first and then bring the others along with you. But, the younger lads carry us too. Human nature does not allow one to play brilliant football for the whole game. That is the interesting side of football that you do not know yourself when it is going to go right for you."

Playing at such high level also demands varying degrees of ruthlessness at inter-county level. Nemo lads were excused after Cork's first league outing against Kerry. After Monday, they will go about seeking their positions back. Up to now, the Nemo six would have walked back freely.

"I am going to battle for full-back," jokes Martin. But, laughter aside, maybe he is a trifle serious. "There is a long season ahead, so I am not too worried at the moment. Once we get back into training with Cork, we will take it as it comes. Some fellows can get injured and more can have indifferent form. It would be good for the county scene if we can come back as All-Ireland club champions. It would be great way for us to start off again."

Two years ago Crossmolina had their moment of glory when they snatched victory by a single point.

Did the Cork side underestimate them? "We had a good first-half, but missed a couple of goal chances. They came out very strong in the second-half and totally dictated the game. We lost our shape. We ran out of time in the end and were unlucky not to draw.

"The final will once again be a fast, physical and open game. We have looked at their style on video. There is a bit more maturity in our side now and we should apply ourselves better. It will be a case of each player having to win his own battle.

"There is one day, one game in ten years that you will peak. That is what you are training for all the time perfection."

Monday, maybe Monday!