A goalkeeper who doesn’t like changing tradition

PLAYING in goal can be a lonely station at the best of times, but last Sunday it was even worse for Erin’s Own keeper Shay Bowen. Not only were his side a point down with time running out in their county SHC semi-final clash with St Finbarr’s, Bowen was blaming himself for that deficit.

“The only thing flashing through my mind was the short puck-out I attempted in the first half. We were a point down with time running out, and I thought ‘Oh God, we’re going to be out of the championship because of my short puck-out’.

“But in fairness to the lads, they kept plugging away and they pulled it out. I don’t think we deserved to lose, in fairness. I thought when it got to 14-all that we’d have a draw, but we got the lucky break.”

A late goal last Sunday put the Glounthaune men over the line and into the decider, but experience in winning tight games has a little to do with that. Champions Erin’s Own surged to a second county senior title last year, beating Cloyne in a tight decider. On that autumn Sunday the nous of men like Brian Corcoran and Timmy Kelleher, who had starred in the club’s first title win back in 1992, was vital in steering the side home, and Bowen acknowledges their importance.

“It’s been a big difference this year compared to last season, but the intercounty lads that we still have, Kieran Murphy, Cian O’Connor, Shane Murphy and Peter Kelly, they’ve been around the block and they know the story. The rest of us have all been together since we were nine or ten, so it’s not as if each of us don’t know what the other fella is going to do.

“Obviously there’s a lot of experience gone, Brian and Timmy would be a loss to any team in the country, but it’s been good for the rest of us too, we’ve had to grow as a team.”

There are other differences compared with last year. A compressed playing schedule means Erin’s Own face a final seven days after their semi-final, which in turn has squeezed the build-up somewhat.

“This year is different, the final isn’t as much of a novelty,” says Bowen. “The fact that we’ve only a week to turn around from the semi-final means there isn’t as much of a build-up. Maybe that’ll be a slight advantage to us. It’s been a bit more low-key, it’s hard for people to put flags out and so on. We appreciate that people are doing their best and getting some colour out, but when you only have a week between the games it’s hard to do that.”

It’s not as if Bowen hasn’t other things to focus on. The Newtownshandrum forward line is one of the most potent attacking units in the game, with names to unnerve any goalkeeper.

“It wouldn’t be playing on my mind, but they have great forwards, obviously. Ben (O’Connor), Jerry (O’Connor) and Cathal Naughton are very dangerous and would get on any team in the country, but we have great backs at the same time. I think we have the best set of backs in the county, so I wouldn’t be worrying about their forwards.”

Bowen outlines the challenge for the club player in keeping focused, while the intercounty players are on duty with Cork. “It’s difficult, particularly for the momentum of the team. You see the difference when the inter-county lads are back at training – the tempo is a lot higher, everything’s being done at a higher pace, the atmosphere is better. Obviously, they’re the leaders of the team, so when they’re not here things aren’t as sharp.

“It’s a bit ridiculous, though, that you’re waiting and waiting to play a game, then you’ve to play a semi-final and a final within a week. This is our All-Ireland final, and we should get a better break.”

Sunday will be here soon, and Bowen is looking forward to the familiar rituals.

“We all have our own place in the dressing-room, some like to watch the curtain-raiser and some like to just stay inside. Everyone respects everyone else’s routine. For instance, I sit between the Bear (Eoghan Murphy) and Pádraig O’Connor on the bus. I don’t like changing tradition.”