Browne says strong team ethic the key to Rockies’ final run

Despite winning 32 Cork senior hurling titles, Blackrock have only won four county U21 championships.

This evening (Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.30pm) against Duhallow, they will aim to win a fifth in the grade. Rockies selector Alan Browne points to a strong team ethic as a key factor in the club reaching the decider.

“When we won three in-a-row in the 1970s, you had the likes of Tom Cashman and Dermot McCurtain on the team, there was a very talented bunch who had come up together,” he said.

“Since then, it was probably the case that there were one or two making the breakthrough every year. Our team is an excellent group and there are no real marquee names, just a great team spirit.”

In Browne’s view, the continuity provided by management teams staying with their sides has been a huge factor in that.

“The underage success in the past few years has been exceptional,” he said.

“This is my first year involved, but the rest of the lads – my brother John, Wayne Sherlock, Paddy Hayes, David Coakley and Mick Kilcoyne – have been with them up through the grades.

“They know the lads inside out and the players are used to dealing with them, so it works very well.”

Recycling great players as underage coaches is key ingredient, but Browne is quick to point out that others have just as a much of a role.

“It does help,” he said, “but there are a lot more guys involved who would never have played senior hurling. People like Br Fitzpatrick, who has done some great work, I’d love those fellas with the senior team at some stage.

“Then there are guys working with teams because their sons are on them, such as Fergal Ryan with the minors. It’s great that there are such people putting the effort in.”

That effort has paid off this year, though Blackrock’s campaign almost came unstuck against Ballymartle, when a late point by Callum Crowe saved them.

“Maybe the players underestimated Ballymartle a small bit,” he said. “As selectors we certainly didn’t, but maybe after winning the city final against Na Piarsaigh, the foot was taken off the pedal a bit.

“However, there was great resolve shown to make sure we got over the line. In the semi-final then against Blarney, there was no fear of complacency, some of the lads would have played against them in the relegation play-off in 2010. We needed a last-minute goal from Kevin O’Keeffe, who’s still U21, so nobody was taking anything for granted.”