Paul Kerrigan aiming to be a winning Nemo skipper

Leaning over the fence at Trabeg to find no more than seven players training under Steven O’Brien had Paul Kerrigan questioning if Nemo could go the distance in 2015.

Such were the numerous distractions facing members of O’Brien’s squad during the height of summer hitting double figures at training became an arduous task. Injuries, emigration, retirements, U21 football, hurling, more injuries and the involvement of four players on the Cork panel was taking its toll.

“There was a stage earlier this summer where we were missing 13 players from the 2013 final squad,” Kerrigan notes. “We only had the bare bones, there were only seven lads training throughout the summer. It was disheartening for them and it was even disheartening for me watching it. When you are looking out at that, you think we are way off getting to a county final. There were so many obstacles in our way.”

Having linked up with the panel a week prior to their opening round win over Ilen Rovers, Kerrigan did not return to the Nemo set-up until Cork’s exit from the All-Ireland championship - two-weeks prior to their fourth round clash with Douglas.

“The hardest thing when you come back from the Cork set-up after the league is you have a week with the club and then you are gone for six weeks again. You could be playing the league final and then you are back training with Nemo on the Tuesday and Thursday. Obviously, you are delighted to be back, but that is after a long campaign in the league. You are in a bit of a trough with Cork and you are supposed to be getting up then for the tempo of club championship in a few days.

“There is obviously pressure on you to perform well. You tell me Brian Hurley isn’t expected to be the main scorer for Castlehaven when the championship comes around or Mark Collins isn’t supposed to have a stormer at midfield. Only having a week to prepare, you don’t get to enjoy it as much. You might have a few pints with the lads after a championship game, but then you are gone, you miss the training and the preparation for the next game. That is what has been most enjoyable, that since the Douglas game, I wouldn’t say it is a bonus being knocked out with Cork, but you are with Nemo for a continuous time and have two to three weeks to build up.”

Fortunate to escape from Páirc Uí Rinn with a 1-10 to 0-13 draw in that clash against Douglas, Kerrigan cites the fixture as the turning-point in their season.

“It was a real funny one. I was half-delighted with the draw at the time, but then I was gutted afterwards because I felt I could have won it myself given I kicked four wides in the last 10 minutes. We really focused for the replay, got a couple back and beat them. ”

The holder of five county medals and facing into his seventh final on Sunday, the 28-year old is hoping to add his name to the long list of county winning Nemo captains.

“Last year was my first season as captain. So far this year we have done better. My dad used to be manager so he wouldn’t make me captain too often. The last time I was captain was when Chríost Rí won the Corn Uí Mhuirí.”

That was 2004. A year later he was part of the Nemo squad that hammered Muskerry in the county final. “That team was laden with inter-county fellas - Garry Murphy, Niall Geary, the two Cronin’s, Joe and Derek Kavanagh, Maurice McCarthy, Dylan Meighan, David Niblock, Sean O’Brien, James Masters and Willie Morgan. I learned so much from these fellas.”