Colin O’Riordan: Doubt always starts to creep in

It is the 1% that gnaws away at Colin O’Riordan.

He’s not sure he’ll ever be rid of it, the crumb of self-doubt permanently lodged in the mindset of the Tipperary footballer.

During most games it is ignored, not an issue. But when the opposition is draped in green and gold, red and white or sky blue, it boils to the surface, kicking and screaming.

You’d imagine an All-Ireland minor medal won at the age of 15, three victories apiece over Cork and Kerry at minor level. and an All-Star nomination in his debut season at senior level would lend itself to a confident young footballer relatively free of self-doubt.

“You go out everyday in the Tipperary jersey and you are 99% sure you have a right chance of winning, but it is that 1% in the back of your mind telling you that the Corks and Dublins of the football world are meant to be better than you,” says the Tipp U21 captain.

“It sticks in the back of your head that if something goes wrong in a game against one of the traditional forces that you could be in for an onslaught. You are thinking maybe they are better than us. The doubt starts to creep in that maybe you are not as good as you thought you were.”

So, how strongly did that 1% play on the Tipperary midfielder when Peter Kelleher bagged two goals either side of half-time in the Munster final to move Cork 2-4 to 0-8 clear or when Dublin forged out an 0-8 to 0-3 advantage early in the second-half of their All-Ireland semi-final contest?

“There was doubt, of course. There is something different about this group, however. They don’t believe in losing. They don’t think we might lose. They always think win, win, win. That’s not the usual attitude of a Tipperary footballer.

“My father played for Tipperary and although he never got over the line against either Cork or Kerry, he has taught me not to settle for moral victories. Is he telling me to enjoy this period of progression for Tipperary football? No. Dad’s attitude is spot on and I suppose that is working against the 1% too.

“When you beat the Corks and the Dublins then, the belief becomes massive. The realisation you have beaten these lads brings you on no end.”

The 19-year old believes the county’s football revolution is a work in progress and outside respect can only be achieved by a breakthrough at senior level, not an All-Ireland U21 final win.

“We are contending with the likes of Cork, Dublin, and now Tyrone. People don’t see that as the norm. Should people think we should be there the whole time? I don’t think so. We have to make the breakthrough at senior before we get proper, proper recognition.

“We won the minor and here we are in the All-Ireland U21 final. Steps have to be taken before we can push on and get recognition. This is just another step that needs to be taken.”