Sharpshooter Deane cool as Cats in firing line

AWAY from the heat and light of Thurles and Croke Park, Joe Deane’s relaxation still has a sporting tinge. “If I had a Saturday to myself I’d get up to watch a Tri-Nations game, keep an eye on the soccer or Aussie Rules during the day, and maybe the American golf then around 8 o’clock in the evening, to take you through to 11; that’d be a good Saturday.”

But that’s for other Saturdays. Today it’s different: packing the bag for Dublin, and the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. Picking out the hurleys for tomorrow. Stowing away that famous yellow helmet.

Actually, just how old is that yellow helmet? “I got it when I was a young fella, my brother bought it for me. I wore it all the way through, but when Mycro came up with a new helmet a few years ago I changed. I upgraded. The old one was fairly battered at that stage.”