Ellis blazes trail for Millstreet

Mark Ellis takes the field for Cork in tomorrow’s Munster SHC clash with Waterford as a representative of Millstreet, a long-standing Gaelic football stronghold in the Rebel County.

The north Cork club has supplied plenty of players to the county’s footballers, but Ellis is their first member to play championship hurling for Cork.

“There’s been a lot of work done at underage in the club,” says Millstreet club secretary Sharon Lane.

“We have a dedicated bunch of people within the club who are interested in hurling.

“Also, Jim Bradley of Scoil Mhuire in the town, put in huge work with school kids over the years and we’re reaping the rewards of that.

He’s retired now as principal but he certainly left his mark.”

Millstreet have always been a dual club, says Lane: “We’ve always had hurling but there’s more of a challenge in managing it now because we have quite a few dual players.

“Certainly there’s huge interest in the Waterford game locally and certainly there’ll be people in Thurles tomorrow from Millstreet who wouldn’t be there only that Mark is playing.”

Ellis himself is a great ambassador for the club, she adds.

“Mark’s a terrific person away from the field but he’s a huge asset to us.

“He’s a role model for the youngsters in the club and any time he can be at a game he’ll go, even if he can’t play himself, due to club commitments.

“He’s someone you’ll always see at training or on the sideline at league matches, encouraging the lads.

“We’re delighted for him and very proud that he’ll be playing tomorrow.”