Birr boys say boss Padjoe has balance right

THEY’VE been here, they’ve been there, they’ve been in almost every position on the field — meet Niall Claffey and Rory Hanniffy — the scarlet pimpernels of hurling.

Rory has had spells in attack and defence. But when Birr face old foes Dunloy in Clones on Sunday the All-Ireland club SHC semi-final, he finds himself at midfield, a position he has come to enjoy.

“I’ve been midfield for most of this year and I’m happy enough. I have Barry Whelahan beside me to mind me — Barry holds the middle while I run around like a headless chicken! But he’s a fantastic guy to play alongside,” he says.

Niall Claffey, a corner-back at underage when he played in front of current keeper Brian Mullins, has also had a couple of tours of duty.

“In 1997, my first year playing senior,” he explains, “I played one or two games at corner forward. After that I went to wing back in the county semi-final. I then won my first All-Ireland, played nearly every game at wing back and I went in centre back. This year now I was shoved back into full back — it was either that or the sideline, some of the lads were telling me!”

The most telling voice in Birr, however, is that of manager Padjoe Whelahan. Back on the sideline after a two-year hiatus with a club he has already coached to four All-Ireland titles, Padjoe was immediately into his stride for yet another assault on the national title. One of those moves was Claffey’s relocation to the edge of the square.

“Padjoe wanted to shore things up, and we’re lucky that we can move players around like that.

“Maybe that is why we are in an All-Ireland semi-final! But we’re lucky that we can move pieces around the board Padjoe, from my reading of the game, likes to build from midfield back, shoring up and not letting any goals in. Then the forward line he might move the players around a lot more.”

High praise, however, for Padjoe, a sentiment echoed by Rory Hanniffy. “Padjoe is a favourite of mine, I’d be happy to play under him forever. Padjoe brings a different atmosphere to training — very relaxed, very enjoyable, we knock great fun out of it.”

Any of those famous weekend ‘training’ sessions? “We were away for a training-camp alright…” — a euphemism, Rory? A wide grin, “Well, we were happy with our fitness levels as a result of that weekend!

“Personally this is a hobby and it will always be only a hobby for me. I think that’s the right way to go; we all have jobs, we’re all busy in other spheres.”

But what of the counter argument, that while you’re enjoying yourselves, those who are training like demons are winning all the titles? “Well we train very hard in Birr,” he says, “But we’ve been able to marry the two — enjoy ourselves and be successful. There’s no point doing it if you’re not enjoying it.”