Rahillys plot new approach
They can either feel sorry for themselves following the losses of Tommy Walsh and David Moran to AFL club St Kilda or they can use the departure of the county duo as a motivational tool.
Former county panellist Declan Quill hopes it will be the latter.
He admitted: “They are two of our best players and they were playing in key positions. They are going to be a massive loss to us. We have Mike Quirke to come in at midfield following his suspension, but still, David’s mobility and his long-range free-taking are going to be sorely missed.
“We were using Tommy all year as a focal point of our attack. Everything revolved around getting the ball into him. We are going to have to come at it from a different angle.’’
Quill agrees that there will be an added responsibility on the six players who start to ‘raise their game an extra couple of per cent’ to make up for the loss of Walsh. We are going to have to manage that if the loss of Tommy is not to felt too much. If fellows might tune in and up their game a bit more we could be in the Munster final by Sunday evening.’’
Despite the high profile the club enjoys, albeit based more on their exploits in the past, the club championship is relatively unknown territory for them.
The recent win over Clonakilty in Austin Stack Park marked Kerins O’Rahillys’ first victory in the competition, having lost to Nemo Rangers twice. Quill recalled that they were ill-equipped on their first foray into the province seven years ago, given the game was played only a week after they won the county final.
“That was our first (title) win in 47 years and I think the celebrations went on a bit too long,’’ he admitted.
They had the misfortune to run up against the Cork side again last year. And that game was played a week before the county final (in which they lost to Mid-Kerry). “It was very difficult situation and maybe heads weren’t right. We were keeping an eye on the county final.”
So, against Clonakilty it was a case of third time lucky for a team managed by iconic figure Ogie Moran.
Quill, a primary school teacher in Tralee, says the Clonakilty result has been a massive shot in the arm.
“Training has gone very well since the Clonakilty game. Even though the two lads are gone and are going to be a massive loss, I think fellows realise it’s a huge opportunity for our club to get to a Munster final.
“You have to take these chances when they come around; they don’t come around every year. And we’re possibly looking at losing a few more players next year, with retirements and things like that. This team has been together for a long time so it could be our last game with the older players.
“I think fellows realise that. There’s a massive focus there to get to the final.’’
He credits Ogie Moran with ‘really putting his stamp’ on the team, pointing out that they missed his influence when he was ill at the start of the year.
“He was away from us for a few months and that might have thrown the team out a small bit. We didn’t have a central figure to guide us, but, having said that our trainer, Mark Fitzgerald, did an absolutely brilliant job.
“Since he (Moran) got back into the full swing of it we play very well under him. The county championship was very difficult for us this year, coming just six days after the All-Ireland.
“But, we have been together constantly since then. And we are getting use to each other.
“It’s a lot easier to play with fellows when you know what they are going to do with the ball!’’
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