‘We’ve one medal, I’d like another’

A WRETCHED Monday night in November and oddly Tralee is a hive of sporting activity.

In Strand Road, Michéal Quirke is slumped against a wall in the Kerins O’Rahillys clubhouse at their county final press gig. He’s just come from Oakpark where he watched his Tralee Tigers teammates train and he’s also mindful of the County Board meeting going on over in Austin Stack Park.

Over the last few weeks the Strand Road lads have toed the party line with regards to Jack O’Connor’s management future. Vows of omerta have been the regular practice but Quirke reckons it was safe enough now to break the lid on Jack’s second Kerry coming.

“I’d say at this stage it’s fairly decided and we can talk about it,” he laughs. “He’s the man for the job. It just shows how lucky we were in O’Rahillys to snag him for the year. And to be fair he’s been very single-minded of late. All the talk about Kerry hasn’t lost his focus.”

At times it has been tough to maintain that focus. The day before Kerins O’Rahillys had to park local duties and enter the provincial arena. Yet despite the defeat to Nemo Rangers, Quirke had to remind himself after that their season was not over. Tomorrow’s joust with Mid Kerry ranks higher in importance.

“It was a strange feeling. As soon as the final whistle went, Jack called us all in to say this was done and dusted. Straight away it was talk of Mid Kerry.”

For Quirke, the Nemo game maintained this year’s trend of bruising midfield battles. Still that’s nothing new. Every time the ball is thrown in, he knows there’ll be a rush of bodies charging in his direction.

“Look you are a target everywhere you go. Going back as far as Rathmore, I was on Aidan O’Mahony and they don’t come much tougher. Against Dingle you’d Tommy Griffin. Every team you play there’s always going to be a battle.”

That hulking 6’ 7”, 17 stone frame is valuable in the midfield bearpit, but Kerins O’Rahillys have found it useful elsewhere as well. Their two-game saga against South Kerry was a desperately close affair and Quirke’s role in the replay reflected those thin margins. Trailing by a point, South Kerry had one last recovery shot through a Brian Sheehan free. It sailed towards the posts only for Quirke to interrupt its flight.

“When it left his boot, I thought it was good. I was just thankful it stuck to the gloves.

“It was crucial we won that replay. It’s fine being a young team and saying you’re up and coming. But you need to take a scalp. To beat South was an impressive victory and one that validates Jack as a super coach.”

His respect and admiration for his club boss and next county boss are unwavering. This year threw plenty of roadblocks in O’Connor’s path, with the bare summer calendar difficult to manage. As one of the Kerry panellists, Quirke recognises his role in stalling the local scene.

“We were kind of in a bubble. Being busy with Kerry, you’re in a totally different environment. Any free nights, you’d come down and watch the lads train. It’s a tough time though. I know from speaking to Jack, it was a tough time for him. But that’s paid off, he’s done great work.”

FOR QUIRKE the intercounty season was largely a bench-warming exercise, save his appearance in the All-Ireland semi-final replay.

“You’re always disappointed when you don’t play. Against Cork I was relatively happy with how that game went. I felt I could have got a bit in the All-Ireland final but you always think of what might have been. It was depressing losing the All-Ireland but going back to O’Rahillys helped. All these young guys have great enthusiasm and it’s very refreshing.”

The football commitments have resulted in Quirke parking his basketball career for a while. He’s yet to shoot any hoops this season and Tralee’s Superleague season is suffering. Recent results have been poor and coach Mark Bernsen’s departure three weeks ago increased the problems. They need Quirke’s input and he knows it.

“They’re struggling a little bit and it’s probably gone a bit pear-shaped. But we’ll be finished Sunday. It’s frustrating from their point of view, thought they want to see you do well. It’s frustrating for myself too, seeing them up there struggling and knowing you could be helping them out.”

Still he’s enjoying his football hugely and knows that by next week he’ll be back in the basketball scene. There’s training on Monday, but he’s planning to reserve that night for potential celebrations and return on Thursday.

Back in 2002 when Kerins O’Rahillys last won a county, he had fanciful notions that this would be a regular custom. The intervening years have shredded such thoughts yet 2008 is something he has savoured.

Through his work as a Games Promotions Officer with the Kerry County Board, he meets football people everywhere he goes. Conversations revolve around one subject.

“You go into the schools and the clubs, and everyone wants to talk football. You’d get a bit O’Rahilly’s slagging but I wouldn’t mind that if we win. It’s a special kind of time, a county with the club is a big event. We’ve one medal and I’d like another to rattle in the pocket with it.”