Lennon: Colleges set O’Byrne Cup bar

LOUTH forward Shane Lennon has defended the presence of college teams in the O’Byrne Cup and claimed they have raised the bar for inter-county teams.

The Kilkerley man, a former O’Byrne and Sigerson Cup player with UCD where he studied sports management, believes it’s in county teams’ best interests to face the third level sides at this time of year.

In the wake of their 20-point defeat to DIT last Sunday, Wexford’s Redmond Barry complained that the Dublin college had an unfair advantage over the Slaneysiders as they have been allowed to train in November and December.

But Lennon, who will line out for Louth against Wicklow on Sunday in what is the only all-county O’Byrne Cup quarter-final, has said inter-county outfits should embrace the formidable challenge presented by the colleges rather than argue against it.

“Playing against another county team that hasn’t done the training, the speed and intensity isn’t going to be as good whereas if you play a college team you have to step it up to their level or you will lose,’ remarked Lennon.

“I remember playing great O’Byrne Cup games against Offaly and Meath when I was with UCD. I know when I was in college if you weren’t flying in January you’re going to struggle because everyone else will be up for getting a place on the Sigerson team.

“There are some good teams coming through in the O’Byrne Cup this year — UCD, DIT and DCU. I know Athlone IT were missing a few numbers last weekend. I was speaking to [Westmeath and Athlone IT goalkeeper] Gary Connaughton and he was telling me they were without four or five county boys.

“The colleges team definitely have an advantage and they see playing county teams as a better form of preparation than a challenge game with another college.”

Louth supporters are thankful Lennon is still around to play for the county after giving serious consideration to emigrating like his 2010 team-mates Mick Fanning, John O’Brien and Brian White who have moved to Australia.

However, he got a fortunate break in November. “I got a job there as coaching development officer. I’m enjoying it. I studied sports management in UCD so that will stand to me in the job, but I’m just happy to be in a position to play with Louth.”

Like he did for a large portion of last year’s championship, Lennon continues to wear a cast on his right hand having recently undergone surgery to have ligaments in his thumb repaired. He sees a specialist next Tuesday when he will find out whether the operation has been a success. But nothing is likely to stop him lining out for Louth this year after they were handed a favourable draw in the Leinster championship, avoiding the big teams such as Dublin, Kildare and Meath.

After the heartache of last year’s controversial Leinster final, he admits the draw offered some consolation but knows Louth have their dark horse status this year and it can be a hindrance.

“We’ve got the easier side of the draw, there’s no point denying that, but each and every one of the five teams on that side are thinking exactly the same.

“People are going to be expecting something from us this year. We had the surprise factor in 2010 but we know starting from the first game in the league that everybody is going to be out for us. That game against Westmeath in Drogheda is a massive one for us.”