*Ballyea wing-forward, Cathal O’Connor. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
An already novel derby final pairing between Ballyea and Éire Óg also has the distinction of being the first hurling decider to have more players with senior inter-county football experience than the hurling equivalent.
Twelve players that have represented the Banner under Colm Collins could potentially line out on Sunday whereas only ten (Aaron Fitzgerald the only dual county star) players have been part of past or current Clare flagship hurling panels.
Ballyea have the highest percentage of Clare footballers in their side (eight in total in contrast to only four hurlers), with Cathal O’Connor being the latest to make a meteoric impact for Robbie Hogan’s side, having only rediscovered his grá for the small ball during the COVID lockdown of 2020.
“I played Under 21 and then senior until 2010 and then I gave it up but I suppose over lockdown I bought a hurley so that was a good start. Robbie [Hogan] and Reggie [Raymond O’Connor] had been trying to coax me back into it and I said if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. So I came back anyway and thankfully it was a great decision as we went onto win the championship last year”.
O’Connor’s reintroduction couldn’t have come at a more opportune time in fact as with Tony Kelly sidelined for the latter stages of last year’s Canon Hamilton race with an ankle injury, O’Connor proudly stepped into the breach and has since grown in stature and confidence with every passing game.
“It was a step up alright. I played one junior game beforehand so it was nice to ease back into it a little before getting my chance at senior level. To be fair, I’m not expected to do anything extraordinary, as long as I do my job, work hard and try to link the play, that’s the key. Essentially getting in those hooks, blocks and tackles as Robbie always says. Anything after that in terms of scores etc are a bonus as really as long as I work hard that’s the main thing.
“By winning last year, I did feel more comfortable this season as it wasn’t as completely alien to me. Now in saying that, I do sometimes still get a bit of a shock when the ball hits the hurley and comes straight into my hand. It’s like ‘wow that actually happened’ so I’m hardly a Tony Kelly but I do a job I like to think”.
That humour and modesty fits in well with the Ballyea mantra that the team is of paramount importance and individual sacrifices and specific roles have to be executed for that greater good. O’Connor’s tireless work-rate and vast inter-county experience has made him a regular on the Ballyea team this year. However, as the Coolmeen native notes, the engine room is likely to get very congested on Sunday.
“Éire Óg are a seriously athletic team and then they have sprinkles of unbelievable talent as well. I think we can match them physically, especially in the crucial middle third so it could all just come down to the day and whoever gets the bounce of the ball. It will be a fairly titanic battle I’d say because the two of us will not hold back from each other one bit so there will more than likely only be a puck of the ball in it either way.”
O’Connor is equally familiar with many of Éire Óg’s players as he is likely to cross paths with fellow Banner footballers Ciaran Russell, Cian O’Dea, Gavin Cooney and former county-mate Aaron Fitzgerald.
“We’ll relish the chance at the Townies but there’s no doubt either that they’ll relish a chance at the county champions too. It’s going to be a serious battle as they [Éire Óg] are flying it at the moment in both hurling and football. They’re going from week to week and winning every week so their tails are going to be up so it’s up to us to match them and hopefully turn them over.
“We haven’t really played them that often. The funny thing is that we always seem to be drawn against Cratloe while Éire Óg always seem to attract the ‘Bridge in the draws. So there isn’t that recent edge or familiarity but there’s still going to be that rivalry there as any team that gets to a county final will be gunning to win it regardless of who they are up against.
“I’m really looking forward to it now. Most of the lads are in their fourth final whereas this is only my second so it’s obviously great to get back to the final. They don’t come around every year so we’re delighted to be there and hopefully we can make the most of it now on Sunday”.
