Blessed by a ‘special bunch’

The hands raised in interest were few. When Eamonn Fitzmaurice handed back the Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne bainisteoir’s bib last May, there was no flood of CVs lodged in the staff room to replace the Kerry boss.

Sure, the school was still basking in the glow of a first Hogan Cup win and less than a month into the current academic year, three students of the Dingle nursery would play a key role in Kerry’s first All-Ireland minor final win in 20-years. Still, not many takers. The problem being that, irrespective of who stepped into the void, unless a fourth successive Corn Uí Mhuirí crown and back-to-back Hogan Cup titles were delivered, the year would be deemed a failure.

Consider then no school had completed the four-in-a-row in Munster since the famed Tralee CBS side of the early 30s, while only six schools in the 61-year history of the Hogan Cup had defended their All-Ireland football crown. The reservations of the Dingle teaching staff were understandable.

Ciarán Ó Móráin had overseen the school’s senior team for a 10-year period up until 2009. He was at the helm for the 2001 Drummond Cup win, holding but a peripheral role, however, as Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne ascended to the summit of schools football over the past three years.

Johnny Flannery, Muiris Mac Gearailt and Vinny Flannery assumed the reins for the 2009/10 campaign. Fallers at the semi-final hurdle that spring, the team went one better the following year. In March of 2012, the three men were still present on the sideline as Corca Duibhne annexed its maiden Corn Uí Mhuirí crown.

Fitzmaurice, assisted by Tomás Ó Beaglaioch, Tommy Griffin and Seán Ó Dalaigh, delivered two further Munster titles and the breakthrough All-Ireland victory. Having worked with the current crop since they arrived into the school five and six years ago, Ó Móráin’s hand was held highest when Fitzmaurice handed back the bib.

Realising the influence carried by members of recent management tickets, Ó Móráin retained the services of Tommy Griffin and Tomás Ó Beaglaioch, while also bringing on board 2012 winning manager Johnny Flannery.

“Who wanted to take that job? Realistically, no-one. You were on a hiding to nothing,” said the Irish and Geography muinteoir.

“Look, somebody had to take them. I’d been there long enough and had been involved with these lads all the way up, competing in the Russell Cup, Moran Cup. I was in charge of them when they won the Frewen Cup two years ago.”

He added: “I’d be at pains to point out what an asset Tommy Griffin is to us. His experience as a player, having won five All-Irelands and his ability as a coach is phenomenal.”

Ó Móráin praised the underage structures in the feeder clubs and said the school has been blessed that a “special bunch” just happened to arrive through their doors at the same time.

“The success of the last number of years is stemming from the three clubs supplying the players – An Ghaeltacht, Daingean Uí Chúis and Lios Póil. While there are no players from Annascaul on the senior team, there are a few on the junior team. Our U15s are in the Russell Cup final after Easter against Tralee. There is a mixture of all four clubs involved in that.

“Of course it is a great help that a special group of players came through the doors together. From first year onwards, this group has been successful. You look at someone like Tom Ó Súilleabháin and all he has achieved during his years here. Then again, there are very few members of this panel that haven’t won something or other with the school. Very few will leave empty-handed and that is a great testament to the work in the school and in the clubs.”

Such has been the success enjoyed by Dingle students that today’s outing will mark a fourth Croke Park appearance in the space of 12 months for Ó Súilleabháin, Brian Ó Beaglaioch and Marc Ó Conchúir.

“It is obviously a help that the majority of them have been there before. Now we have to remember there are a good number that weren’t there last year. The experience of the other lads is crucial to bring these guys along.

“You can see their experiencing telling at training this week as the sessions have been relaxed. We expect their experience to tell again when we take to the field Saturday. There will be no looking around in awe. They know what to expect, they know what is at the end of it.”