The Mounthawk view: 'Take the shackles off, play freely, and see how far it gets us'

CAPTAIN's CALL: Paudie McCarry of St Raphaels Loughrea, Galway, Geoff Neary and Stephen Minogue of St Kierans College, Kilkenny, Calum Daly of Omagh CBS, Tyrone and Oran Ferris of Mercy Mounthawk, Kerry. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile

At half-time in their historic Corn Uí Mhuirí final victory last month, Jack Murphy and his Mercy Mounthawk teammates scored themselves six out of 10.

They were in front by five at the break, but nowhere near as fluid as their earlier displays. 

Mounthawk centre-back Murphy said there were a couple of factors for a first half where they fell below their potential.

“Myself and a lot of the other lads, we had never played in front of a crowd like that,” he remarked of the 3,395 attendance at Austin Stack Park. 

“There were nerves as well, and being a Tralee town derby, there was just that added pressure.” 

This Saturday, the surroundings will prove similarly daunting. 

But given their Omagh CBS opponents are both familiar with Croke Park and Hogan Cup final afternoon, Mounthawk can’t afford a 6/10 first half performance and can’t afford to leave it as late as the final quarter before finding their fluent best.

“That’s been the dream from the get-go, not even schools football, just since we were young,” Murphy said of getting to run out on Croker’s hallowed sod.

“You don’t get to play in Croke Park with the minors or the 20s anymore. The only way you get there is with your school or with your club, if you’re lucky enough. 

"We’ll take the opportunity now and run with it. Without a doubt, it’s the biggest stadium that any of us have ever played in, or will ever play in.

“Initially, in the warm-up, we’ll just try and get used to our surroundings. Once the whistle goes then, I don’t think there’s any pressure on us anymore. We’re all going to take the shackles off, we’re all going to play freely, and just see how far it gets us.” 

That no-pressure mantra was first mentioned by manager Aidan O’Shea in the aftermath of their maiden Corn Uí Mhuirí success. 

In essence, Munster glory was their goal and everything that falls into their basket thereafter is a bonus.

For Murphy and the other Leaving Cert students on the Mounthawk team, Saturday is less of a bonus as it is their final outing in school colours. 

Unlike his younger brother Ben, who lines out beside him in the half-back line, he’ll not be around for Mounthawk's Corn Uí Mhuirí defence.

“That’s been one of our main things all year. Once we got through the group stage (in Munster), we treated every game as a knock-out game, and potentially it could have been our last game playing with any of the boys.

“When we beat Naas and got ourselves into Croke Park, the main thing was that we got three more weeks training with the boys. Because once it’s over, it’s over.” 

They’ll hope it ends as first-time Hogan Cup champions.