Daly eyes dream double

LAST Saturday in Kiltoom was the type of county final experience Niall Daly has always dreamed of.

Surrounded by family and friends, he celebrated as Padraig Pearses claimed the Roscommon IFC title with a six-point victory in a final replay with St Dominic’s.

It was a notable triumph for the Woodmount-based club, which brushes the border with the east Galway town of Ballinasloe and is located on the old N6 Galway-Dublin road. Just 12 months ago they had been relegated from the Roscommon senior ranks but ensured their sojourn at intermediate level would be a brief one.

But that is not the end of Daly’s county final travails for 2011. Tomorrow he is a rare breed, a Roscommon man with a pivotal part to play in settling the Cork senior football final as he lines out at the heart of the UCC defence.

“It’s very unusual to be preparing for another county final, especially in Cork given that I’m from Roscommon,” said Daly.

“Last year I played against Duhallow when we lost the first round with UCC in the Cork championship and it was quite weird to be playing in a game like that. But I’m used to it now and I think it’s only going to bring me on as a player as it’s such a high standard of football.

“It’s helped me with Padraig Pearses as well. I train down here during the week and just go back for the club for games. The club have no complaints as I’m getting good high quality training with UCC so it’s a win-win for everyone.”

That Daly ended up travelling to Cork to study was not by design but he has savoured the experience.

“I’m studying sports science with a view to getting into PE teaching. It was a bit of a fluke that I got down here to Cork though. I had applied for UL but I didn’t get the points for that and was accepted into Cork instead. At the time I faced a huge dilemma whether to go or not. I didn’t know too many fellas in Cork and it was a good distance from home.

“I decided to head down on my own and luckily enough it worked out well. The football was a big help in getting to know fellas in college.”

UCC have benefited from his presence as well. Daly won a Connacht U21 medal with Roscommon last year and was part of the U21 side that reached that final against this season before losing out to the eventual All-Ireland champions Galway. His defensive prowess was to the fore for UCC in the Sigerson Cup final last March when he slipped into the centre-back position after captain Adrian Greaney broke his ankle in the semi-final and he has been excellent in the county championship throughout the summer.

“It’s been a great year so far winning the Sigerson and it’s just a bonus that we’ve got this far in the county championship. It’s been busy with the club in the Roscommon intermediate championship but it’s a nice complaint at this time of year. Once a week is all we meet with UCC. It’s very relaxed and there’s no huge meeting about tactics or anything. The players just try to express their own ability on the pitch and enjoy their football.”

And there will be a Roscommon contingent amongst the UCC support in Páirc Uí Chaoimh tomorrow.

“There’d be big interest at home now in how I’d be getting on,” says Daly. “Football is a big thing and you’d have guys in the club asking you about UCC. The family have been down for the Clonakilty and Avondhu games now and they’ll come down again on Sunday. Personally it’d be fantastic to get a medal.”