Seevers relishing Sligo chance to shine on big stage

AT THE start of this season Paul Seevers applied the brakes and ground his hurling career to a halt.

He had lived the life of a Sligo hurler for 20 years, an existence largely carried out in the shadows of the GAA world and with scant success to show for it.

He had other things on his mind, there was a burgeoning insurance business at home in Tubbercurry to tend to and a house that he was in the process of building. That was it, at 38 years of age, his days as an intercounty hurler were done.

But when fellow Tubbercurry man Mick Burke joined the Sligo management in April along with Seevers’ father Mick; then the clamour for Paul’s return grew. The boots never stood a chance of being permanently hung up on the wall.

“I needed a break from it during the league because I had so much going on,” he says. “But come April they weren’t really going to let me stay away from it! I said I’d give it a lash again and when I came back we started physical training down in Sligo IT. That went on for about 10 weeks so my fitness picked up a lot after that.”

Tomorrow the Sligo hurlers will be able to bask in the sun for the couple of hours, Croke Park their own personal domain in the Nicky Rackard Cup final against Louth.

Seevers has pitched in with 1-26 in their four games to this point, the highlight coming last Saturday in Markiviecz Park when he shot 0-10 in their semi-final win over Fingal.

“I just think it’s a fantastic competition. It gives the weaker counties something huge to aim for. After the league in April we went and played Longford, Monaghan and Roscommon in challenge matches. They were really good games because all the sides were preparing a championship.

“There are a few things that might need to be ironed out. Playing the matches off so fast every week can take it out of players and I think there should be a two-week break between some. And the situation where the Christy Ring final was going to be played on Friday night was a terrible one but at least they changed it.

“But still, as an idea it is a great one. It promotes the game superbly and is a huge incentive for players.”

While they may be the lowly undercard to two massive football qualifier clashes, for those immersed in Sligo hurling it is impossible to define the significance of tomorrow’s appearance at GAA HQ.

“Tomorrow is for the guys behind the scenes in Sligo hurling as much as the players. They’ve kept it going through good times and bad times. Mick Burke is from Tipp but he’s been living in Tubbercurry now for 50 years and he’s done amazing work.

“My own father is from Galway and he’s been in Tubbercurry for 40 years, and if we won it’d be brilliant for people like them. It’s like a family with the team as we’re very close-knit.”

Seevers’ brush with hurling fame arrived via the Railway Cup, winning three medals with a Connacht side monopolised by the Galway contingent.

He’s kicked the big ball in his time as well, starting with the Sligo footballers in 1989 and continuing until 1998; seeing old comrades like Eamonn O’Hara achieve last summer’s historic provincial triumph warmed his heart.

But his first love is hurling: “I’m on the road a long time now at this stage. I played in goals in the All-Ireland Minor B final in Croke Park in 1986 but the only time I’ve got back there since was a shinty trial a few years ago. It’s going to be a great experience for all the lads, as this team is not about any one man.”