Underdogs Bruree hope to humble fancied ’Well
Patrickswell, perhaps, would have been predictable enough, even if in the last few years they haven’t been the dominant force of old, but Bruree?
They have won one senior title in their long history, and that over 100 years ago? From 1893 in fact, when they campaigned as South Limerick, and local hero Eamonn de Valera was still in short trousers.
Yet here they both are, and Bruree aren’t travelling with any trepidation.
Former star Jim O’Brien was a member of the fabled Limerick team of 1973, corner-back on the last team from the county to win the
All-Ireland., He captained the club to the junior title in 1966, lost in two county senior finals in 1978 and 1982, but reckons this could be their year.
“Expectations are good now. It wasn’t looking like this early on in the year but they came out of the blue. We were thinking it might happen, they’re a very young team in the main, but they’ve come through that bit early.”
One of the not-so-young on the starting 15 is former Limerick star Stephen McDonagh, now manning Jim’s old club position of centre-back, having spent most of his career on the wing.
“And doing very well there too,” said O’Brien. “He has Shane Mullane – a minor this year – on one wing, Dessie Linehan on the other wing, another young fella.”
Jim himself is long gone from the scene, but has four sons involved.
“John is at full-back, Gerard is centre-forward, James is wing-forward, and Conor is on the panel.” And the O’Brien influence doesn’t end there. “My brother Pat has two sons playing, James Charles – my James is James Vincent and Tommy, at corner-forward. Mike (another brother) also has a son a sub, Michael.”
That’s seven O’Briens involved with Bruree but if that isn’t enough, there’s another who will have an interest.
John O’Brien is the Patrickswell manager speaks of his respect for the club. “Bruree are probably a surprise package, no more than ourselves, but they were close last year, again like ourselves. They haven’t beaten any of the big names on the way to the final, but they’ve beaten those who did.
“They’re a very well balanced team, solid down the middle, a fine outfit.
“We are certainly not approaching this lightly,” he said.
As for the Well, so far this year, inspired by the brilliance of Ciarán Carey at centre-back, they’ve been the comeback kings.
Down by seven or eight points against Garryspillane in the first round, against Kilmallock in the quarter-final, against Croom in the semi-final, each time they came back from the abyss.
“It is a great sign of a team,” agrees John, “But it doesn’t do my ticker any good! They have tremendous heart, tremendous spirit, just keep plugging away. They have this never-say-die attitude and are never beaten. It’s all about playing for the full 60 or 65 minutes, and a goal in the last few minutes is usually a lot better to you than a goal in the first minute. It’s a great sign of a team. We haven’t hurled that well yet this year, but we’re in the final.
We’re getting good luck this year, and we’re riding those breaks. But there was never a championship won yet without a bit of luck, was there?”
Tomorrow, most everyone outside of Patrickswell will be hoping that luck breaks Bruree’s way, a fact accepted with good grace by John O’Brien.
Namesake Jim, however, is hoping it won’t come to that. “That feeling here if the 15 play well, we have a great chance, but they’ll have to peak. There’s great excitement, flags everywhere. It would be great to win this one, make up for some of the heartache over the years.”
