Long clan would love to win title for dad JJ

Kilmurry go in search of a first junior football county in 26 years tomorrow having survived the drawn game by the skin of their teeth two weeks ago against Rockchapel.

In the dying embers of a game they seemed destined to lose, they chiselled out two points and they’re back with a second chance of emulating the heroes of 1986.

Tomorrow, most of those who were involved in that historic win will be in attendance. But one man who can’t is club legend JJ Long, recovering in the National Rehab Centre in Dublin following an horrific farming accident last year.

JJ has three sons; Liam, Sean and Edward. The first two are on the panel, but Edward withdrew at the start of the year to look after the family farm while his father recuperates in Dublin.

“It’s been a difficult time for all of us,” said Edward, “but we’re coping as best we can. It’s April 12 months since the accident, so it’s been tough, on Mam (Phil) more so than anyone else because she’s been going up and down and that kind of thing and it’s very unsettling for her really.

“Initially she would have been up there all the time because my aunt is living up in Bray. But as Dad improved she went back to work in South Western Services out in Clonakilty so she comes down from work and she goes up the days she’s off.”

But things are improving, said Edward. “Dad’s good now, he was in the Mater there two weeks ago for an operation and he’s back now in Dun Laoghaire this week to continue his rehabilitation and more or less trying to get back moving around after the operation. He’s in good form and hopefully before Christmas he’ll be home.

“But he’s never too far away at all. I’d often get a call there in the morning and he’d nearly have the news before I would. It’s like he’s never been away. He keeps us on our toes all the time!”

With JJ paralysed from the chest down, life, admits Edward, will never be the same again but through the help of locals and the surrounding clubs, they’ve been comforted somewhat.

“People have been unbelievable really,” he acknowledged. “It’s even hard to describe how people helped out and jumped in to offer a hand wherever they could. Neighbours and people from the local community have been incredible and we can’t thank them enough. They went away and set up the JJ Long injury fund straight away and organised all that. Especially in such a difficult time for everyone with the recession but people have been very good.

“We’re actually building an extension there now with the help of the injury fund. Thanks to that we’ve been able to build a bit of an extension because the house itself is old. The gable end wall is over five feet thick so it’s very suitable for internal modifications and that but we’re putting up an extension as well that’ll hopefully have everything he’ll require to live a more comfortable life.”

Club PRO Michael Linehan, one of those spearheading the injury fund, said the response has been a testament to JJ’s status. “JJ is always very close to the team,” he said. “When news of the accident came through last year we were playing a match and it shocked a lot of people as we’d all be very friendly with the three boys in the family- Liam, Sean and Edward. In fairness, everyone in the parish rallied around them and supported the family.

“The golf classic earlier in the year was very well supported. I think we had 158 teams over the two days and we’d a wide array of tee-box sponsors as well. I think over 200 came on board for that which was brilliant. That wasn’t a club initiative as such, but it was a testament to the other clubs around like Canovee (who are in the same parish) who helped out with the running of it.

“JJ was chairman for 21 years I think and was obviously one of the main men in the club before he became chairman,” continued Linehan. “He took over when he was only 21 and it’s a testament to the man that he stayed there for so long. He’s been involved with teams all his life and since I’ve been around, I’ve always seen him stuck in something and doing what he can for the club. He’s chairman of the Muskerry Board now as well so he’s always someone who’s been involved.”

“The lads (Edward, Sean and Liam) deserve huge credit and their sister Trish too. They’ve gotten into a routine now I suppose but it’s hard for them.

Asked what a win would do for the parish, Linehan said, “It would be absolutely huge for us. We’re like any other rural place with emigration, we’ve lost Liam Buckley (Australia) and Stephen Downes (America) and Dominic Creedon is going too so it’s hard. We re-graded back to junior in 2003 and we’ve won three of the last four Mid Cork leagues and this year we won the league and the championship. So 2012 has been a good year so far and hopefully it’ll get better yet.”

And with JJ in their corner, who’d bet against them.