Ger Brennan: Louth’s All-Star candidates, the Ó Muircheartaigh mantra, big stage mentality

Ger Brennan fondly remembers iconic Gaelic games commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

FOND MEMORIES: Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh with UCD Gaelic Games Executive Ger Brennan at UCD during the reunion of club and intercounty GAA players trained by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh as part of a training group of Dublin based players in the 1970, '80's and '90's at UCD in Belfield, Dublin. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Louth manager Ger Brennan is happy to talk. Their remarkable campaign so far, his managerial philosophy, the significance of Sunday: let’s get into it all.

Speaking ahead of their All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal, the Dublin All-Ireland winner is evidently conscious of the stage they will operate on. Time now to make the most of it.

“Context is key and context for Louth means take the opportunities to promote GAA in the Wee county as much as possible,” said Brennan. That is why he is content for players and management to do media.

“There is also a huge importance to look at the individual talents within the team. A lot of these players wouldn't have been getting as much exposure.

“For example, Sam Mulroy the team captain. A super player and a lot of the talk over the last few years was around Sam and maybe one or two other players but now as the group has progressed and continued to evolve, you guys are starting to see that there are a few other Sams in the team in terms of leadership, in terms of their talents and the skill sets that they have.

“Craig Lennon is a super talent. Donal McKenny corner-back. Conall McKeever is having a super season. Conor Grimes, Ciaran Keenan. There is so many players and all these lads for me are in All-Star categories, if you ask me.” 

He continued: “Paddy Keenan was the last player to get an All-Star in 2010 and there hasn't been an All-Star or even a nomination, I'm unsure, from a Louth player but I think you can start to see in the group and the fact that there are 19 journalists here today interested in how Louth are doing, there is an understanding and an appreciation nationally that we're not just here to make up the numbers, we're there to compete and represent the county with pride.” 

Brennan retired from the intercounty game in October 2015 and set off on a pathway towards management. He took a role as Gaelic games executive with UCD, he managed clubs in Wicklow and Kildare, he was a selector in Carlow and was a contender for several vacant intercounty positions in recent seasons. Finally, he was appointed as Mickey’s Harte’s successor last October.

What is the key?

“For me, management is about people. Making connections and getting to know the county board, the ground staff, the full-time administrative staff in the county and listening to their experiences.” 

He learned that from experience. On the day of his press conference, iconic Gaelic games commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh died at the age of 93.

The passing of a legend evokes all kinds of emotion. For generations, his voice was the soundtrack to the game and everything that came with it. Warm memories of Mícheál lead to warm memories with friends and family.

“His ability to remember where people came from, and not only that, where their parents came from,” began Brennan.

“My memories of Mícheál would relate to my uncle Fran Brennan, who would have played soccer for Dundalk and would have had an International cap. And my uncle Tom Brennan who ran for Ireland cross-country.

“I was only fresh on the Dublin team for a match in Parnell Park against Kerry and was walking the pitch beforehand. I knew who he was, I didn’t think he knew me, but he came over and shook hands and said, ‘I knew your late uncle Tom, and Fran as well.’ For me, it was a very humbling experience.

“In more recent years he would have been at Brian Mullins’ funeral and we would have brought Mícheál over to UCD where he used to train the Galway and Kerry players in UCD around the pitches there for all the lads based in Dublin. And we had an event there for Mícheál with Brian Mullins and Mícheál’s family. God rest him. A great GAA man and a great person.” 

Louth will line out in the All-Ireland quarter-final for the first time in their history. It has been 67 years since they won the 1957 All-Ireland final. They have been building for this moment brick by brick. Consolidating a spot in Division 2, back-to-back Leinster final appearances, a manager who understands what it takes to break through formidable barriers.

“I suppose starting off my career, we used to get the crap kicked out of us at the quarter-final stage by Tyrone or Kerry or Cork when they were motoring well back then too. We thankfully managed to break through eventually during my own playing career.

“With that experience and familiarity, and the experience of the management team, there is a wealth of knowledge there of how to emotionally manage the group and how to ensure that they'll be as fresh physically and mentally as possible with the seven-day turnaround when they take to the field at Croke Park at a quarter past one.

“The way you go about that really is you have to acknowledge the achievement of the group. I'd say they're the most successful Louth team in 67 years, when you look at it in black and white. That is obviously a huge achievement for this group and for a county like Louth. So that has to be acknowledged and you have to harness that energy and put it into your preparations then.”