A class act among the Rebels

IT has been a memorable week for four-year-old Darragh Myers, who began national school in Ballyvourney on Monday.

Darragh, you see, is the only Kerry supporter in a Cork-supporting classroom, and is a second cousin of Colm Cooper.

Darragh’s mother and father, Billy and Kathleen, hail from Farranfore but moved to the Cork village a few years ago with work commitments.

Billy joked that if Kerry lose, he may have to sell up and move back to Kerry “because the neighbours won’t give us a minute’s peace for the next 10 years or even longer”.

The Myers family is steeped in the game: grand uncle, Jack, was on the first Kerry team to win the All-Ireland senior title back in 1903.

Explained Billy: “He was also on the 1904 winning team and the 1905 team but they lost the final to Kildare. You could say we were reared on a diet of Gaelic football and hopefully Darragh will keep the tradition going when he gets older.”

He added: “People are talking about the importance of winning midfield, but I feel this game will take on a life of its own. It may not be Darragh or Nicholas who will decide it, it may well be Padraig Reidy at corner back or maybe Donncha O’Connor at corner forward who will be the hero of this game.

“Hunger is going to be another vital ingredient in deciding the final. This is Kerry’s fourth All-Ireland final on the trot, and have they the appetite? On the other hand, this is Cork’s first final in eight years. They have put together a very good team and they are certainly thirsting for success.

“This is the real big one. From talking to people within the county I could detect a certain nervousness about the game. This is a must-win game for both counties.”

Ballyvourney man James Cronin is praying for a Cork victory.

“Kerry folk really rub it in on their way back from Páirc Uí Chaoimh after beating Cork in the Munster final. The horns of the cars blow as they drive through the village with their flags flying. They get great pleasure in doing that.

“If we win on Sunday it would put a stop to that once and for all because they’ll never be able to live it down that we beat them in an All-Ireland final. They can win all the Munster titles they like, provided we get this one.”

Seán Ó Croinin is another native who has suffered at the hands of his Kerry neighbours over the years.

“This is a unique final in that it’s the first between the counties. The fact that Kerry are looking to put back-to-back titles together is another reason why Cork want to win this game more than any other.

“One of the great strengths of Kerry teams over the years has been their middle eight players. Cork seem to have that diamond now and I would be reasonably confident that if we can cut off the supply of ball to their forwards, we can pull it off.”

The final word on the game was left to shy teacher Joan Healy who fails from Kenmare: “The result is a foregone conclusion,” she said, “but I wouldn’t be saying that out too loud on the off chance it went against us.”