Mulcahy has inside knowledge on CIT
The Newtownshandrum man had the hurling pedigree and the roots to the college to be a suitable candidate. He did a fine job in the managerial role as well, guiding the third-level team to the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final last March. But now Mulcahy will be parking those loyalties as he prepares to face off against some of the players he trained in tomorrow’s county senior hurling semi-final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (2.30pm).
“It’s an unique situation all right,” admitted Ricken. “Pat came on board and did a brilliant job for us, along with another Newtown man, his brother Brendan. Pat would have been chairman of the hurling club when he was a student in CIT and captained us in the Fitzgibbon Cup as well.
“But, overall, there is a huge connection between ourselves and Newtownshandrum. Ryan Clifford, Jack Herlihy and Michael Bowles all played in our Fitzgibbon Cup team last year. Then Cathal Naughton, John Paul King and James Bowles would all be past students as well.
“Paula O’Connor, a sister of Ben and Jerry, has been heavily involved in camogie here in the past as well. But all those friendships are being put to one side now. We’ve just been concentrating on the game and I’ve no doubt that’s what all the Newtown lads are doing as well.”
CIT’s squad are used to juggling dual commitments and have succeeded on that front all summer. Their management team face a similar challenge this weekend with selector Con Burns lining out for Carrignavar in the East Cork junior hurling final this evening while Ricken will have a keen interest in how his native club St Vincent’s fare in tomorrow’s county Premier IFC semi-final.
“It’s busy times alright for us”, says Ricken.
“But it’s a lovely place to be, involved in a county senior hurling semi-final and it’s one we really want to savour. Our management team of myself, Liam Hodnett, Con [Burns], Eamonn Cashel and Seanie O’Keeffe have all put in huge efforts. Our board delegates Brendan O’Driscoll and Charlie McCarthy are also key figures.”
But CIT’s rise to prominence in contesting their second county senior semi-final in three years would not have taken place without the dedication of their players.
“They’re fantastic lads. They buy their own hurleys and pay their own petrol to travel to CIT at least once a week to play hurling. The players drive this and they’re the ones who are hugely interested in representing the college. Our job is to promote hurling in Cork and that’s what we try to do with this team.
“We look to develop players and I’d love to see a situation whereby guys that come out of college, will help their own divisional teams compete at a high level again. A few pulled out of the championship this year but it’d be great to see them back involved next year.”
