The journey of a lifetime can end in glory for Keane

IN JANUARY 2007, Johnny Keane embarked on the 80 mile round trip from his home in Liscarroll to Dripsey, where he had become the club’s hurling coach.

It’s not the most modern thoroughfare and the traffic can grate at times, but Keane has grown accustomed to the route.

Success has helped of course. In their first year Keane and Dripsey ran Grenagh to a replay before losing out in the Mid Cork JAHC final, but 2008 has brought a wave of good times. Dripsey’s momentum has taken them all the way to the big house on Jones Road, as tomorrow afternoon they square off against Kilkenny champions Tullogher-Rosbercon in the All-Ireland Club JHC final.

In Keane’s mind the seeds for this success were sown in the local domain: “As great as it is now, the key to all this was getting out of our own division. With clubs like Grenagh and Cloughduv around, I can tell you that’s not an easy task. It was the same story then in the county against Glen Rovers, then Carrignavar and Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s. Those were very hard games.”

Freed from the confines of county boundaries, they prospered in Munster with shackles off. The tests of Mondeligo (Waterford), Monagea (Limerick) and Kilgarvan (Kerry) were all ticked successfully.

“There was obviously big celebrations after the county final and the lads were given a week off,” recalls Keane. “But when they came back, we called fellas aside and told them we not going to fulfil fixtures without preparing properly. And in fairness, the lads trained as diligently as they had throughout the year.”

The Christmas celebrations were quelled in the New Year by the dawning challenges. The All-Ireland semi-final brought its own novelties, a journey to the North Dublin seaside location of Portmarnock for a bout against Fermanagh’s finest Lisbellaw. After overcoming that they now face champions Tullogher-Rosbercon.

“If we had to warn the players about complacency before the Lisbellaw game, there hasn’t been any need for that regarding Sunday. Kilkenny are the top at any grade, they’ve supreme hurlers. It’s an enormous task but we’ve prepared well.”

Still they are relishing the occasion. The team and associated entourage are journeying up today along with another bus of supporters.

Tomorrow two buses will ferry supporters to Croke Park and hundred more parishioners are travelling by an assorted means of car, rail and air.

Meanwhile Tullogher Rosbercon will be hoping to emulate the achievement of Conahy Shamrocks last year – the home club of GAA President Nickey Brennan – and lift the trophy.

“There is huge excitement in the parish,” says PRO Murt Flynn. “The club is grateful for the support in the last few months and we hope that many more can travel with us as we strive to overcome very difficult opponents.” Team manager is Fr. Liam Barron and they are captained by centre-back Pat Hartley.