Promised land beckons for history-seeking St Mary’s

HIS football campaigns with Kerry have been pockmarked with big days in Croke Park but tonight’s appearance at Jones Road comes with a twist for Bryan Sheehan.

He has grown accustomed to donning the green and gold when heading for GAA headquarters but on this occasion it will be the blue and white of his club St Mary’s. It’s a wonderful opportunity as the Caherciveen outfit contest the All-Ireland Club JFC final and Sheehan does not need to be reminded of its significance.

He admitted: “It’s always special to play any game in Croke Park. But doing that with your club is something you’d never envisage. There’s a fierce buzz in the town. You’ve people who’d never have been to games talking about going up and there’s people flying home from abroad as well. We come from a great club when you think of the players that have gone before like Maurice Fitzgerald and Jack O’Shea, and what they achieved. So we realise how privileged we are to be getting to do something they never got the chance to.”

Sheehan and his teammates have been able to witness first-hand the effects of All-Ireland club glory. Two years ago on a remarkable night for football in the Iveragh Peninsula, their neighbours St Michael’s-Foilmore and Skellig Rangers both claimed titles in Croke Park.

“At the time, we were saying fair play to them but naturally there was a little bit of envy. They set the bar higher. We realised that if we could compete locally with them, there was no reason we couldn’t try to emulate them. We’ve set our sights on Croke Park ever since we won the Kerry junior against Dromid Pearses.”

St Mary’s have regularly hit the high-water mark since moving outside their local borders. But there have still been challenges. The All-Ireland semi-final against Manchester outfit St Peter’s took place against the backdrop of confusion over the venue.

“It was chaotic stuff”, recalls Sheehan. “We’d trained in Kilmallock the week before the game and then that was declared unplayable, and when we went to the Monaleen club in Limerick, we went to the wrong pitch first of all.

“We arrived late for the match and that could have unsettled us. But Peter Keane, who’s come on board this year as manager, was a brilliant influence that day. He’s played a big role all year and he calmed us, insisting that we’d do our proper warm-up. We were settled then going into the game.”

The reward for that St Peter’s victory is a tilt at Cavan champions Swanlinbar.

“It’s going to be a great occasion. I think it’s a night for all the guys who helped us along the way like Frank Curran, Mossy Cossy, James O’Sullivan, Batty Moriarty and plenty more. There are nerves there and having them is a good thing. But fellas need to enjoy the experience and treasure it rather than fearing it.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity yet there’s no point going up there and not collecting the trophy. It’ll be a long road home to Caherciveen on Sunday if we’ve no cup to keep us company.”