Connery expands horizon

Last year Kieran Connery only had Thomas O’Gorman for company on those midweek dashes down the M9 from Dublin to training in Carriganore outside Waterford city.

This year the Déise senior football numbers in the capital have swelled with Cillian O’Keeffe, Stephen Enright, Tadhg Ó hUallacháin, Shane Ahearne and Andy Doyle all joining the commute. It’s a hectic schedule for Connery, an IT consultant with Accenture in Dun Laoghaire, and his teammates but the strength in numbers has made the treks more tolerable. The hope is that tomorrow’s Munster quarter-final will bring a reward.

“We head down once a week, either meeting up at the Poitin Stil pub or the park and ride at the Red Cow roundabout. It can be tough but my employers are good in letting you leave early and work up the hours the following day. And we’re not the only ones doing it, you’d notice the Poitin Stil seems to be a big pick-up point with lots of lads with other county and club gear bags meeting up there to head off training.”