Tony Brosnan: 'Any game we play, we’re always going to be thinking of Jamie'

Dr Crokes' Tony Brosnan battles with Na Gaeil’s Jack Doyle. Pic: Bryan Keane, Inpho

Tony Brosnan has been in sensational form for Dr Crokes in the Kerry senior club championship. With an eight-point haul in Sunday’s final against Na Gaeil, the Kingdom attacker took his tally to 0-21 from open play in four matches.

Despite a late rally from the Tralee side that reduced the deficit from ten points to five by the final whistle, the defending champions were always in control. Brosnan, Gavin White and Mark O’Shea led the way, and the collective responded.

“I suppose the goal kind of unnerved us a small bit. We’ve been in those situations before and we knew that we just needed to get hands on ball and get the right fellas on it, like Gavin O’Shea and Gavin White. I thought we saw out the last two or three minutes very well,” said Brosnan.

“Obviously you’d take a seven-point lead at half-time any day, but that breeze was very strong and we probably felt that we left a couple of easy scores behind us, myself included. However, against a stiff breeze, we do feel that we mind the ball a lot more.

“Whatever it is when we play against it, we’re way more controlled, and it probably suits us a bit more. It looks like it did suit us, because we ended up seeing out the game, which was what we wanted. We were happy out.” 

After last year’s victory over Dingle in the decider, followed by winning back the Bishop Moynihan Cup against the same opposition, Dr Crokes were determined to retain the club championship crown. The extra freshness, from getting a bye to the last four, certainly helped.

“I’ve said a lot that back-to-back is so special. There were a couple of years where we were crying out just to get back into a final, and it just wasn’t happening for us,” he added.

“Getting Pat (O’Shea) back involved and getting the right management and the right players, trusting the process and all that kind of craic, we knew our talent and we knew how well we could do if we just got rolling. It’s always nice to retain what you’ve already won, so we’re very happy.

“We had a couple of injuries that we needed to clear up. For Kieran O’Leary, that was the first few minutes he got under his belt. There are a few more lads that didn’t play today that we’re hoping to have back for the county championship.

“On the bye, it’s always nice, because obviously we’d won the Sam Maguire and you enjoy yourself after that. I think Na Gaeil played the last four or five weeks in a row, which is very tough on the body after a very tough campaign. I felt we were very fresh, and it showed.” 

Losing the All-Ireland semi-final to Errigal Ciarán back in January hurt. Yet that paled into insignificance compared to the tragic death of club stalwart Jamie Doolan in July. On Sunday evening, the entire Dr Crokes squad brought the Michael O’Connor Cup to their former team-mate’s final resting place.

“Jamie will never be forgotten about. I was close to him, and he was a gentle soul. Whatever you wanted, Jamie would be the first man to help you out. He was a special human and we were lucky enough to have him in our lives and part of our club.

“I think Jamie would be proud of us today, especially the way we showed a lot of character in the last couple of minutes. That’s what he was all about. Any game we play, we’re always going to be thinking of Jamie.”