Cunningham keen to end hectic year with a double

HIS schedule this week is a frenzied one yet Anthony Cunningham is not in the mood for complaining. September is a month for chasing trophies and the Kilchreest native is delighted to be doing that on two fronts.

On Saturday evening at 7pm in Semple Stadium, he sends his Galway U21 hurling side into action as they face off against Dublin in pursuit of the Cross of Cashel.

And then irrespective of the result, he must calm himself on Sunday morning and focus on that afternoon’s clash. In Cusack Park in Mullingar, he will watch his Garrycastle seniorfootball team contest the Westmeath county semi-final against Tyrellspass at 2.30pm. It has been a manic year juggling the preparations of both squads and begs the question as to how he manages it?

“I just have a patient wife to be honest”, laughs Cunningham. “The big thing is you’re gone six nights of the week. You’re doing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with the Galway U21’s, then Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning with the Garrycastle footballers.

“It’s been very busy right through from the 24th of May when the Galway U21’s started until now. You’re training all year and September is the month to be playing in.”

Remaining at the helm of Garrycastle was an issue that he tossed around in his mind earlier this year. Cunningham had combined the two roles in 2010 and had found it a heavy workload. But the lure of claiming a third consecutive Westmeath county senior title with the Athlone based outfit proved too strong.

Cunningham, who works in the local institute of technology in the town, has developed a hugely impressive record as a football coach. He previously steered St Brigid’s to three Roscommon titles between 2005 and 2007, and landed the Connacht crown in 2006. With Garrycastle, the haul of trophies has increased and their Leinster ambitions were only scuppered by Portlaoise in the 2009 final and Kilmacud Crokes in last year’s semi-final.

“With Garrycastle going for three-in-a-row, it was very hard to walk away from that. It wouldn’t be something I think I’ll be able to continue doing, managing two teams. But it’s very enjoyable though at the moment as you’ve two great sets of players who are very keen to learn and to train.”

His initial attention this weekend is trained on the Galway U21’s who are aiming to avenge last September’s crushing defeat at this stage against Tipperary. Cunningham has aimed to utilise that experience to improve his players this year. They have pounded the challenge game circuit as well, touring the country to play club and county teams in Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and at home in Galway.

“You’re trying to play teams better than you so you’ll get up to the pace of it. It’s a big challenge because we faced a Limerick team in the semi-final who had done very well in Munster. They were on a roll. But the experience of last year was a big one for the lads involved and it did help them. There’s been a huge amount of coaching done by Mikey Kelly and Tom Helebert in the backroom team.

“Last year I think it was a big arena to come into. The Tipperary players were above the average for U21. Bonnar Maher, Michael Cahill and Noel McGrath were probably to the forefront of their senior performance last Sunday in Croke Park and they were all playing there in the same positions last year. It’s all a learning curve for these players. Galway have to keep on developing them, particularly in the amount of gym work they do in the off-season. Players at minor and U21 have to realise they have to do that.”