All-Ireland titles for all grades gives us something to aim for – O’Brien

*Sean O’Brien. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Miltown Malbay’s Sean O’Brien knows what it takes to win any title.

Goalkeeper on the St Joseph’s Miltown side crowned Clare SFC champions in 2015, 2018 and 2019, he is part of the management behind the St Joseph’s Spanish Point side vying for All-Ireland glory this weekend. “The fact that there are All-Ireland titles for all grades means that there is something to aim for and we are really looking forward to next week’s final”.

“Heaps of football and loads of games, that’s what every young fella wants. There has been a great run of football with the early stages of the Clare schools competitions, then the under 21’s, back with the schools, some involved with development squads, the under 20’s”, the Irish teacher explained.

“There are lads who played with the school here who are part of Clare teams now. They suffered heartbreak in Munster finals. These lads want to play for Clare. Football is important in these parts. You have Miltown and Kilmurry, you have Cooraclare and Doonbeg as well. There is a really good mix in this group. They train hard, they work hard, there is a good atmosphere. They have come through a few tough battles”, commented Sean.

O’Brien continued, “our table in the staff room is a real GAA table. A lot of lads would have worked with these lads in the past, Mikey Neylon and John O’Sullivan who have recently gone, there are loads of real GAA people on the staff so there is a great buzz around the place at present”.

Sean is happy that the players are coping with the training and preparation for the final and also managing to continue their studies ahead of upcoming exams. “You would often hear about lads getting too caught up and worried about study. The lads are keeping both going, they get their work done and then they do their training”.

He has viewed their opponents Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa Clara in action. “They are very strong, a lot of Offaly minors and under 20’s in their squad. We know that it will be a tough task but we are delighted to be there and to have a go, and get to have a crack at it. That’s the target and maybe with a bit of luck, you’d never know”.