Damien Comer
By John Harrington
Damien Comer has been one of Galway’s stars on their march to Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final against Tipperary.
The squat, powerful forward has given the Tribesmen a real focal point in attack with his ability to win hard ball, run directly at opposition defences, and finish clinically.
His combination of skill, bravery, belief, and youth is the distillation of everything that has been good about the Tribesmen so far this year.
Comer was in Croke Park this week for the announcement that Eirgrid have become the Official GAA Timing Sponsor and spoke to GAA.ie about Galway’s year so far, the potential they have for further improvement, the challenge posed by Tipperary, and his own development as a footballer.
Q: Galway have beaten Mayo and won the Connacht Championship for the first time in years, is it time now to also end the county’s losing streak in Croke Park by beating Tipperary on Sunday?
**A: **“Yeah that's for sure like. The win over Mayo obviously and winning the Connacht title obviously has instilled great confidence in a young Galway side. We haven't won here in 15 years. We've broken records already this year so that's one we'll hope to break again on Sunday but, look it, we're a young team. We're building. We're not the finished article yet. We've got a lot to work on, a lot to improve on, but definitely we'd be hoping to overcome that on Sunday.
Q: Are you old enough to remember Galway winning in Croke Park?
**A: **“Yeah I vaguely remember '98 but I remember 2001 better. And even the celebrations that went on after it. Obviously they were the idols, even Kevin, our manager, they were the people we looked up to. Michael Donnellan and Padraic Joyce. It's nice now to have our own bit of history made. We're not happy to settle at that. Obviously we want to push on. As I said, we have a lot of things we need to work on. We've seen Tipp in action. It's going to be a close one no matter what the bookies say.
Q: What age were you in 2001?
A: “I would have been seven. Not much memories of it. To be honest I remember more of the celebrations than I do of the game but it was a great year for Galway football. Even 2000 as well, I vaguely remember that draw and the loss against Kerry. We're looking to make our own history. We've looked up to them lads for years and it's nice to be back in Croker again and hopefully we can overturn that.
Ja Fallon
Q: You played in the All-Ireland Qualifier against Tipperary a couple of years ago…?
A: “I did, it was in Tullamore. That was my first year on the senior panel. It was a wide open game. I think there was eight goals in it. As I said, they're a good side. We're favourites, they've done a lot of things that people haven't expected of them this year. They've taken out a Division One side, no more than ourselves. It's going to be a tight game. They've got some classy forwards, some classy players all over, no more than ourselves. Looking forward to it now.
Q: That match was a real shoot-out. Is this Galway team sounder defensively now than it was then?
A: “Yeah. We've tightened it up. Kevin, when he came in, he was looking for consistency. We have tightened it up but then we conceded a goal against Roscommon and they probably had chances, Senan Kilbride hit the crossbar so, as I said, we're not the finished article. We've got a lot of things that we need to work on and we've got to put in practice so we'll see where it takes us this year.
Q: Was there some disrespect shown to this Galway team in the manner in which it was written off by many at the start of the campaign?
A: “Yeah there was. I suppose it's probably based on our previous performances and we probably inherited a lot of it. Everyone wrote us off. Media wrote us off. Even on the Sunday Game they said, 'Obviously it's going to be a Roscommon and Mayo Connacht Final', but I think that just drive us even more. That made us want it even more. We knew what we had in our locker and Kevin instilled the belief in us and we started to believe in each other as a team as to the performance we can get out of it. The kind of negativity in the media was the biggest thing that drove us on to beating Mayo but we've been on the wrong end of a few hammerings from Mayo as well so you could see where we were. It was probably our own doing as much as anyone else but it was nice to get over it.
Q: You carried that belief into the Connacht Final, but it looked like you had left the win behind you after the drawn match?
A: Even ourselves. We probably did leave it behind us the first day, but I think it worked in our favour that we got the extra game because we have a young team. A lot of lads would have benefited, even myself. I'm 22 but there are younger lads than me. I'm nearly one of the more experienced campaigners now, I'm there two or three years. But it's the young lads and the debutants this year that need games under their belt.
The Roscommon game has probably given us a bit more belief in that it was more open and we've shown what we can do. In the drawn game the weather didn't allow us to play or either team to play, but we kind of left it behind us. We had our heads down in the dressing room afterwards and Kevin came in and said ‘look, you're playing in two Connacht finals, what more could you want?’
Damien Comer
Q: Is there more belief in this Galway team now than there has been for a number of years?
A: I think there is. Every Galway team always has belief but when you're not getting the results it's kind of hard to keep that belief. This year we've got the results so we have the belief, but we know we have a lot of work to do so that's probably the difference. We're not getting ahead of ourselves. Tipperary are a fine side, they're going to bring everything and with 15 on 15 on the pitch, anything can happen so we've got to keep the heads down for the week and work hard and hope that it's enough to get us over the line.
Q: The common perception is that this Galway team is still developing? Would you agree? Do you think you can go further?
**A: **Those expectations are there, we are a young team. Wherever we get to we get to, but there's so much more in this team. It might not happen this year, it might not happen next year - it could take two or three years to really develop because there's 19/20 year olds on the panel that are only really learning the system that Kevin has brought in. It takes a year or two to get used to it so lads are kind of buying into the process, but we’ve got a lot of work to do so we’re playing it by ear and seeing where it’s going to take us. We’re looking forward to every battle and we won’t fear anyone, but we have a lot of work to do.
Q: Does this year feel like a reward for the personal commitment you and the others on the team have shown? Kevin Walsh mentioned that more than 50 players had turned down the chance to be involved…?
A: I don’t know why they turned it down. As you are growing up, every young lad’s dream is to play with your county team. As a young lad Niall Coleman was in my club and I always looked up to him. I imagined getting out on the pitch and playing in front of 20,000 in a Connacht final like he did, that was the dream. It baffles me at time why people would turn down that chance. I think that fact that we have progressed and done so well this year, it’s going to generate the hunger that Galway football needs, it is the boost that it needs. People next year will probably be biting at the bullet to get in, to get on the panel. It’s the huge lift that Galway football needed. In previous years it wasn’t there, the desire wasn’t there. You trained for months and then you are getting knocked out in the qualifiers and nothing to show for it. Now that we got a Connacht Final and showed that we are a team that’s progressing, people will want to be in there on it.
Kevin Walsh is encouraged by the progress Galway are making.
Q: Is Kevin Walsh getting more out of the Galway players than would previously have been the case?
**A: **As a manger he is very good one-to-one. Kevin you can talk to him about anything and have the craic with him but you know where to draw the line with him. He has very good people skills, he can talk to you. It’s probably his personality with the players…like he wants you to do well and you want to do well for him. He’s such a gent. That probably does affect the on-field performance of the players. There is a good bond between the players, which hasn’t been there for the last few years. Everyone seems to be getting on and it seems to be working so far.
**Q: Is there now less of a scoring burden on you in the forward line? **
A: We have a very good forward line. It’s just about the supply of ball. If we get enough ball we can do damage. It’s probably proving a bit harder this year because a lot of teams are going defensive and (playing) in the full forward line probably isn’t as enjoyable as years before, when it was one-on-one inside. At times there against Roscommon when you find yourself one-on-one it’s that bit easier. If other lads are taking the load, it’s great. It’s a team performance at the end of the day. Danny Cummins, a man who has got a lot of stick over the years, took his two goals very well and hopefully he can continue his form as well. Other lads come into it, (Gary Sice) Sicey one of our most experienced campaigners is having a good season as well. If we just keeping building, keeping popping over (the points) we will go places.
Q: You played some great attacking football in the Connacht replay against Roscommon. Presumably you’ll be looking to replicate that in Croke Park now?
A: It is one of the only times in the last few seasons that the forwards have clicked so well. Myself and Danny working inside, I don’t think we have ever played so well together. If we can keep playing that style of football and get that out of ourselves, we will be very impressed, especially on an open pitch like Croker. I think Galway and Tipp are both open football teams and people will be expecting a nice, open game. It could turn out that way and it mightn’t turn out that way. I suppose it depends on the day and the weather will have an influence on it as well.”
Gary Sice and Danny Cummins bagged goals for Galway.
Q: You weren’t on the pitch at the end of the Connacht Final replay after being black-carded…what was it like watching from the sideline?
A: Obviously I would have liked to have lasted the 70 minutes. I think the fact we were so far ahead it probably made it that bit easier because I remember I got a black card in the under-21 against Mayo with 10 minutes to go and I think there was only three points in it and it was nail biting stuff sitting in the sideline just thinking that possibly you could have thrown it away for the team. But, I think we had enough of a lead - that kind of helped in that situation. Obviously it would be nicer to stay on for the full hour. I’d still rather be out there helping the lads.
Look, we’ve got a serious bench there and even that lads that aren’t togging, they are driving everyone at training, they are pushing for places, so if anyone takes their foot off the gas that’s where the boys who aren’t togging are going to slip into their spot. Anyone who comes on to me is going to do a job.
Q: Does the black-card punishment fit the crime?
A: I think it was harsh to be honest. I’d say I was probably one of the first players to get a black card while being in possession of the ball. Ciaran (Branagan) is a very good referee. He seen it as he seen it and I think Padraig Hughes had a different view on it. I think it was a bit unfortunate to be honest. I tried to turn my man and as I tripped he fell down on top of me. Ciaran had the understanding that I pulled him down on top of me. Look, it didn’t come down to that in the game and Ciaran had a very good game other than that, so, it was just one of those things, it can go any way on the day.
Q: You’re a physically powerful player, do you enjoy the physical battle with a defender?
A: I don’t mind it. It’s fairly taxing on the body. You’d be sore for a few days after it. I suppose I’d probably rather be let play and given a small bit of room. No, it’s not too bad as long as lads are getting punished for it. Normally In games I seem to attract an awful lot of frees. I don’t know, maybe is it because of the size of me but you’d like to be let play that little bit more rather than be fouled all the time.
Sometimes you do get harshly treated but in general I feel you get what you deserve and in previous games I couldn’t have any complaints. If I feel I’ve been fouled I’ve been fouled and like you accept that. The backs know too. You might get a soft free here and there and you mightn’t get a free which you would deserve. It balances itself out, but I do agree sometimes the bigger players are targeted to more abuse off the ball and it’s not spotted. Look it, It’s the way it goes and you kind of get on with it.
Damien Comer
Q: Did you feel much pressure to make an impact when you first joined the Galway senior panel because of your All-Ireland success at U-21 level?
A: I suppose a small bit, but I never thought I was going to have the influence I was going to have. It was Alan Mulholland who asked me to come in at the time and I was kind of reluctant because I thought I was maybe a bit too small and a bit too young, I was only 19. I was like 'I don't know if I'm ready for it', but he was like 'of course you are ready for it, at under-21 you are playing against lads that are playing senior.' So he gave me that chance to go, I went in and probably grasped it pretty well. But the lads who have started this year have been the pinnacle of debutants to be honest, the four of them including the goalie and the full-back line, they've all done very well. Eamon Brannigan is only 20 years old and he's scored nearly two or three points a game in every league game. He kicked 0-3 in his first championship game against Mayo and kicked 0-2 against Roscommon as well so he'll be happy with his performance so far and hopefully he can drive it on.
Q: Have you always been a forward?
**A: **Starting off I actually played in the backs when I was younger with my club, and when I was brought into the under-21 scene then it was kind of midfield. Then even when we played Sligo in the first round of the under-21 I played wing-back in a challenge game and then he threw me midfield. I suppose my height probably was against me at midfield when you come up against the 6ft 6 midfielders and you've got a bit of a disadvantage.
Then as the year went on and Tom Flynn came back from injury I was moved to wing-forward at under-21 so it was kind of more of a roaming role up and down. I think I'm happier inside, I think it’s more suited to my game and the way the game is gone you need a massive engine for wing forward for going up and down and the lads that are there are executing it perfectly. So I'm happy enough inside, once you get a bit of space at all its a great position to play.
Q: Do you know some of the Tipperary players from college?
**A: Yeah I know Robbie Kiely, I would have played with him at NUIG for three years and I also would have played with him in America in the summer of 2013, he was out there playing with Connemara Gaels so I'd be friendly enough with Robbie. Mike Quinlivan was out in Boston that year as well so I kind of know him as well. Then at the International rules trials last year Ciarán McDonald would have been marking me a few times, so I know a few of their players.
** Q: There’s a good chance you’ll be marking Ciaran on Sunday…?
A: Yeah, he’s a good defender. He’s proved it through the years. He’s a very tight marker and physically strong, he’s a nice lad but obviously we’ll probably come to terms at some stage during the game and we’re looking forward to it.
