Pádraic Mannion: ‘Embrace big occasion and let your hurling do talking’

Shortly after Ahascragh-Fohenagh fell to Carrickshock in last February’s All-Ireland intermediate club final, the management which had guided the Galway club to county and provincial success decided to step away. A new sideline team was put together, with Tony Keady drafted in as coach.

Thus far, they’ve played four senior championship games. Beat Killimordaly and Abbeyknockmoy. Lost to Moycullen and Kilnadeema-Leitrim. Victory over Athenry in their final group outing and they could, potentially, squeeze into the knock-out stages. They will, of course, be without their coach when they take to the field that particular afternoon.

Two of the leading figures in bringing senior hurling to the East Galway village are the young Mannion brothers, Cathal and Pádraic. The latter called down to the pitch in Ahascragh on the Monday before Galway’s All-Ireland semi-final. Keady was taking the senior session. Mannion didn’t participate owing to the close proximity of the Tipperary game and while one of the drills was being run through, the former Galway half-back began chatting with the current number five.