Passing on the torch
“It’s quite calm, but what it is is the blend between older guys and newer guys, and the experienced players are aware that it may be the first big game for the younger players.
“You’re trying to ensure the tension doesn’t override your performance. It’s about peaking — before the game you can’t be roaring and shouting all the time, because you’ll be so worked up that you’ll be exhausted by the time you’re out on the field.
“You need to be motivated at the same time, if you’re not tense you shouldn’t be there, but it’s all about controlling that tension.”
When McCarthy started he had experienced players to help him; now he passes on the lessons he learned from them.
“In my first few All-Ireland club finals it was fantastic, you had older guys in the dressing-room and you fed off that. They’d put the arm around you and tell you what you’d experience. That helped, and now it’s a matter of giving that back.”
Nemo have been drawing on the lessons learned this season and improving as they progress. “A number of games stood to us in the county campaign — both games against Clon set us up well for the final against Ilen Rovers, for instance, and we’ve been trying to peak and peak as we go on. That’s been reflected in the training we’ve done along the way.
“I think the Munster campaign has stood to us as well, and now we’ll be hoping to take it another step further. Against Ballina we were trying to shut them down, and I think St Vincent’s will be doing the same with us. It’s going to be an all-out battle.”
McCarthy is looking forward to his outing in GAA headquarters, even if his memories of the venue aren’t all good ones.
“I have more bad memories than good of Croke Park, but that doesn’t take away from the occasion. Playing for Cork, and being defeated by Kerry the way we were on a couple of occasions was disappointing so the memories are mixed, but that would never take away from looking forward to the occasion.”
In that context McCarthy welcomed the appointment of Conor Counihan as Cork football manager.
“I fully supported what the players did, but I think Conor will bring a huge amount to Cork football — when Larry stepped down it was between Conor and Billy for the job.
“I was involved with Cork when Conor was a selector and I know he has a great football mind. He’ll bring a lot to Cork and I think he’ll do well.”
Based on his evaluation of club standards in Cork McCarthy is optimistic about the future for Cork football generally.
“I don’t think it’s a reflection on standards in Cork (that Nemo win counties) because if it were we would have been getting hammered in Munster or the latter stages of the All-Ireland championship. When we played in three club finals in-a-row we were going right to the end of the All-Ireland series, and in many cases we were getting tougher games in Cork than we were along the way.’’
Has he been impressed by their St Patrick’s Day final opponents?
“In terms of beating Crossmaglen, absolutely. They’re in an All-Ireland final, and I don’t think we’ll be taking anything for granted.
“With Vincent’s what we’re focusing on is ourselves. We might find ourselves behind early on, or whatever, and we’ll have to deal with it.
“You try to prepare for those eventualities because then, when they happen, you don’t panic. I’m sure Vincent’s are a fine outfit, strong around the middle of the field, with good attackers, but we won’t get too bogged down in that.’’
For all the experience, however, McCarthy admits he still gets butterflies on the morning of a big game.
“I get nervous, the same as everyone else, but I can manage to eat. Twenty minutes before the game I get rid of the food — the wrong way. I’m renowned for getting sick before games, I’ve been that way since I was a young fella.”
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