All about the journey for veteran Haughney

Reaching the destination provides an immediate high. It is the journey, though, that lures you back for more.

Sat, 14 Oct, 2023 - 07:26

Eoghan Cormican

On these pages earlier this week, we laid out the youthful complexion of the Midleton house-minders.

Should it be Ciarmhac Smyth that comes in for injury-troubled corner-back Luke Dineen, then five of the Midleton back seven will be aged 23 or younger.

It is from midfield up that the Midleton faces begin to get a touch more grizzled. It is from midfield up that the mileage clocked in black and white begins to significantly increase.

2023 is half-forward Pa White’s last of his 20s. Already established in the thirty-something club are forward colleagues Conor Lehane (31), Luke O’Farrell (33), and midfielder Paul Haughney (32).

O’Farrell first togged for the Midleton seniors all the way back in September of 2006. He’d won a county U16 title the evening previous.

Haughney made his senior debut two years later. A league game at home to Castlelyons. A “dirty” spring afternoon during which O’Farrell broke his ankle. Indeed, O’Farrell wrecked it to such an extent that 12 pins and two plates had to be inserted in his leg.

“Not the best of days, as you can imagine,” Haughney recalls of his debut.

Sixteen seasons later, Haughney is still serving in the Midleton engine room. Still relishing the different challenges the middle-third throws up.

“Still enjoying it as much as ever too,” he adds.

“Every night you are training, it is tough but also fiercely enjoyable. It is a nice release to head training of a midweek evening, and you are bouncing off lads in the dressing room before and after. It’s routine at this stage.

“We are a fierce tight group here. These lads are your friends off the field as well as on it.”

From the team that toppled Sars to win the 2013 county final, Haughney, Lehane, and O’Farrell are the three survivors. They doubled their medal count two years ago.

Reaching the destination provides an immediate high. It is the journey, though, that lures you back for more.

“When you start out at the beginning of the year, the ultimate goal is to get to the final and win it. But the journey along the way is what you enjoy the most, going training, playing challenge games, playing league games, and then championship coming around. The season can just fly along.

“It is more about the whole year than waiting for one game.”

Midleton’s 2021 county final conquests Glen Rovers were relegated last month. Sunday’s opponents Sars went from seven finals in eight years to no final in eight years.

All that the future holds is uncertainty. The opportunity at hand has to be grabbed.

“That is more true as you are getting a little older,” the midfielder continues.

“When you have two teams going strong in their respective championships (the Midleton intermediates are also in the county final), that brings an edge to training and keeps everyone on their toes. There's no one stepping off, lads are going hammer and tongs for it.

“Sars will be a challenge but one we are really looking forward to.”