St Brigid’s have the right combination

AT first glance, they might appear a strange partnership - former Meath hero Gerry McEntee and ex-Louth guru Paddy Clarke combining their talents to manage a Dublin team.

But there is nothing strange about their achievement this year.

Sunday was the culmination of that work as their St. Brigid's charges defeated Kildare side Round Towers to capture their first AIB Leinster Club football title.

McEntee, one of the top surgeons in the country, is known as such an intense individual one would imagine he would want sole control. But, he admits he knows nothing about team preparation and his only previous experience of management was with the club's U13 team.

"I manage them. I have a young fellow playing and they are a good team,'' he says proudly, adding that he is: "a Brigid's man to the core."

He lives in the heart of the parish, less than half a mile from the club ground, where up to 54 teams are catered for during the busiest parts of the season.

"I know a lot of the players for a long time and I meet them regularly during the working week. I saw them play in the intermediate final 12 years ago.

"For me, the big thing this year has been winning the Dublin championship.

"Brigid's played in two finals in the previous four years and lost both to Na Fianna, one by two points and the other by a cricket score. It was very important that Brigid's won a county final because there are a number of fellows who have given everything to the club over the years and they needed to win."

Politely, but firmly, he rejected the view that the absence of the 'big guns' had given both teams a much better chance of winning the provincial title. "The big guns were not out of it. They played in the final on Sunday,'' he said.

"Round Towers were as good a team as there was in Leinster. We watched a video of them going down and beating Rathnew in their home territory. You could see they were a strong, physical and mobile side. We knew the battle we had ahead of us."

But McEntee was not keen to hog all the plaudits and swiftly pointed to the role played by Paddy Clarke 'a lovely fellow and an absolute fountain of knowledge about the game'.

"He is a joy to work with and we work very well together. I haven't an idea of training in my head - not an idea of a training drill or a football drill!

"All the drills and all the training comes from Paddy.

"I don't have any experience in training, so I don't get involved.

"I like to get involved with the players on a personal level. And, they are a great bunch of players. I have great time for them."

Clarke sums up McEntee's contribution in one word - 'belief,' elaborating: "It's the intensity he brings. You saw him with Meath.

"He's just a woefully intense man - and he brings that to the team. They realise if they want to achieve something they have to be that single-minded. Apart from that intensity, Gerry brings an awful lot of experience with him, too."

Clarke delights in the fact that the club championship is 'so open' this year. "It's great to have new faces. It's great for everyone to get a bite of the cherry.

"Fair play to Rathnew for winning eight-in-a-row, but I think it would have been marvellous for two or three of the teams they beat to have their day in the sun. It means so much to parishes, something I appreciate from being involved with so many clubs."

McEntee concedes, however, St Brigid's face a major challenge in the All-Ireland semi-final against An Ghaeltacht.

"I have not seen the Kerry champions play, but I know some of the players on the team so I know we will be playing a quality side."