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.”