Fraggie getting used to the good times

THIRD county final in-a-row for Sarsfields’ Kieran ‘Fraggie’ Murphy this Sunday, against the Glen in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but it never gets old, not for a guy who has known the bad days in the now-thriving east Cork club.

“I was playing senior hurling with Sars for nine or 10 years, since I was 16, without coming near a final,” says the current Cork captain, “And now three-in-a-row. Good times. It’s a huge achievement for the club, all the good work put in at underage coming to fruition. There’s been massive development at both juvenile and senior level over the last 10 to 15 years. We all came through the underage structure, though when I was starting we didn’t have what we have now. The foresight of the people here, to build the astroturf pitch, then the hurling alleys, the clubhouse, the gym — as club players, we’re blessed with the facilities.”

Blessed indeed, but the club itself is blessed to have a talent such as Fraggie on their books. A model trainer, work-rate second to none, a shining example to all the youngsters who have enjoyed so much recent success.

Over the last couple of years, however, with club and with county, he had become a little gun-shy; he was still working as hard as ever but was reluctant to shoot — a fatal flaw in any forward worth his salt. It’s an observation that Fraggie accepts, but is sweetened by the added observation that in recent games, in the semi-final win over neighbours Erin’s Own particularly, he seems to have regained his mojo, is again scoring, striking with confidence. “Yeah, that’s a fair point, there were situations in the championship where I could have — and should have — been shooting but was laying the ball off, lacking ruthlessness. Maybe with the club you take on added responsibility, and that was the attitude I had the last day (four points from play, three of those at crucial times in the second half).

“I have confidence in myself now to shoot, that’s something I’m looking to do more of, but I’ve trained hard, and I’m happy the way things are going.”

They’re going to need Fraggie in that kind of form again this Sunday, Sars, if they’re to hold back the surge of Glen Rovers. Due respect to the Rockies, who top the Cork honour roll with 32 titles, and to the Barrs, equal second on 25, but the men from the Glen are among the most storied in hurling, probably due to the enduring glory of the great Christy Ring and the mighty Jack Lynch. It’s been 21 years, however, since the famous Seán Óg Murphy Cup resided in Blackpool, and now the new generation of Glen stars are on a mission. Fraggie and his team-mates, however, are on a quest of their own. “The Glen haven’t won a county since 1989, when they beat Sars, so they’re going to bring a massive hunger to it, but we’re coming off the back of a bad loss against Newtownshandrum in the final last year so we’re looking to restore pride. Both teams are very attack-minded. There will be a huge crowd from the two clubs, and with the intermediates on as well (Ballymartle v Tracton, Premier Intermediate final), there should be a fantastic atmosphere.”