Busy few weeks in Ennis for Éire Óg 

By Cian O’Connell

Two Clare Senior Championship finals are imminent for Éire Óg, Ennis.

The hurlers face Cloney-Quin in an eagerly anticipated decider at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on Sunday, while the footballers clash with Doora-Barefield in the football showpiece the following week.

It is busy, but chairperson Brian Howard wouldn’t have it any other way. Years of work at underage level is now being reflected at the highest level in Clare. “I know we were here in '22, but when you peel it all back, and I was only talking to a couple of the older lads, I'm old enough myself, but it is a fabulous achievement,” Howard responds.

“For a club, there is a massive buzz around the place, the bunting is being put up, we've a team of lads putting up bunting around the town. It does create a massive buzz around the place. At the end of the day, they're two individual matches, and our respective managers have the lads very much grounded.”

Gerry O’Connor and Shane Daniels, the two managers, have collaborated, enabling the dual players to thrive. “Ultimately, a lot of the credit has to go to the players themselves, but also it is challenge being a dual club for the two respective managers,” Howard adds.

“I think this year, even more than other years, they've a very cohesive relationship between themselves. I might've been involved in a bit of mediation with different managers over the years. This year, it has just been very smooth, they really respected each other, and what their goals were.

“The welfare of the players was very much to the fore in their minds. A great two weeks is ahead of us, but the focus right now is on next Sunday on the hurling final, we can't even think about the football, that is just the way it is.”

The crossover is significant, but with careful planning and plotting Éire Óg have negotiated the hurdles thus far. “We've six starting and maybe another five on the panel behind them,” Howard explains.

“We've been very fortunate up to now with injuries, we've a good recovery session, generally on Mondays. There is a balance between younger and older guys, the Monday evening is all about recovery, trying to get right after that.

"No doubt about it, a challenge exists with week on, week off, but it is motivating the boys, it is giving them momentum. They feed off each other. They focus on one game, then the following Monday or Tuesday they're back training with the other code, and can focus on the match ahead.

“A lot of clubs around the country would love to be in one county final. So, to be contesting two county finals is massive. We're not alone, looking at social media, you've up on 10 other clubs around the country still in contention for playing in two county finals. It is a fabulous achievement, and we don't take it lightly.”

Howard knows the talk that can accompany a town team. “If you really look into it, you've Clarecastle, Doora-Barefield, The Banner, and Éire Óg,” Howard says.

“The four of us are all sharing the same town really. Our pick is really small enough. Years ago, alright, you'd a lot of families living in the town, but now a lot are living in estates outside the town.”

One of the most pleasing aspects for Éire Óg, though, is the retention of players, who’ve progressed through the juvenile ranks. “In relation to the underage, it really comes from the Academy structure that was put in place probably 15 years ago now,” Howard says.

“We've an excellent squad of coaches and volunteers there, who strive to develop players. That is what it is ultimately about. We've four adult football teams in Championship this year. We've four adult hurling teams in Championship this year too.

"If you didn't have those four teams a lot of them players would be sitting on the bench on the third team. It is about giving as many players as we can the opportunity to play Championship at whatever level that is.

“They normally find their own level. The lads on the third and fourth team, it is as important to them to win a Championship game as it is for our senior team or our top two teams. We've a very, very good solid foundation in the underage structures. We've great coaches.

“This is our first time with four teams, but when lads feel they've an opportunity to play Championship hurling, at whatever grade it is, you do get them out.”

That O’Connor and Daniels have integrated emerging talent is a source of encouragement. “Around 10 players who've came out of minor in the last two years have been blooded at senior level, both League and Championship,” Howard remarks.

“It is about giving those lads an opportunity. They know they will get the opportunity. It is up to them to make the best of it. They may not always retain that level at senior, but equally so, if a guy is playing well on the third team, he is going to be identified, and if his workrate is there, it is a strong possibility he will push on to the second team.

“The same, equally, for our second team and first team. There is a reward. It is trying to find your own level, number one, and then trying to develop and play at the highest level they can play at.”

O’Connor brings expertise and organisation. “Gerry is a very experienced manager with inter-county experience with the Clare U21s and seniors,” Howard says. “So, that is massive experience to bring to club level. He has brought a very professional set-up, that has been very evident in the past two years, the professionalism he has brought to it.

“While being conscious it isn't an inter-county team he has, and he doesn't have the budget maybe of an inter-county team, but he has still brought a very sound and professional set-up to everything. I make the distinction between a manager and a coach; they're two different roles.

“Gerry has his coaches there, he manages. He is excellent at that; he makes sure everything is run as smoothly as it possibly can. What is crucial for a dual club is the cohesiveness that has to be there between the football and hurling manager. That is there this year.

“There is no point in a hurling manager or a football manager coming into Éire Óg and not being mindful that we're a dual club. They've to be first and foremost conscious and mindful of that for a player welfare point of view.”

Daniels, who operated under the highly regarded Paul Madden, has made a real impact too according to Howard. The O’Brien family has occupied a central role in Éire Óg and Bernard’s sad passing on Friday hurt deeply. “We didn't have Darren playing as a result of that, it was very upsetting for the club and team, and very hard for them to go out to play a match within 24 hours of hearing that news.

“They managed to do it, they're a great bunch of lads, great credit should be given to them. Shane has a very professional set-up too, he was with Paul Madden last year.

“I've no doubt he learned a lot from Paul, in his time working with him. He is joining Paul at inter-county level next season, Shane has been fabulous, he has worked very well with Gerry in relation to the dual aspect.”

That Éire Óg are relevant and competing for silverware bodes well for the future. “We're delighted to be in the position we're in, and all focus is now on next Sunday with the hurling,” Howard says.

Then another important football match will be on the agenda.