Carberry preparing for busy weekend in Longford

By Cian O’Connell

“I'm playing with them in the Junior C Final on Saturday - togging out anyway - and managing against them on Sunday,” Ger Carberry laughs about the madness of the upcoming weekend.

Carberry is in charge of Colmcille, who face Emmet Óg Killoe in the Longford SFC decider, but the previous day he will be in action. On that occasion, he features for Emmet Óg against Ardagh Moydow.

Ultimately, a chaotic stint at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park for Carberry. “It will be a contrasting weekend now,” he adds. “We're in the Junior C Final on Saturday, Killoe are in the Junior A Final before the main final on Sunday. They're in three finals this weekend.

“You just deal with it, you love the craic and banter with the lads. There will be a bit of slagging in the dressing room, it is great. When you don't take it too seriously, it is brilliant, and I know the lads well.”

In 2008 Carberry got involved with Killoe as a player and coach. Joy can still be found in the journey. “I've been with Killoe for the last 17 years,” he adds. “I coached two senior championship teams with them under Tommy McCormack and Declan Rowley. So, I've coached a lot of the team we will be playing on Sunday.”

Killoe know what is required in big games. “They've a good team, they've won the last six county finals they've been in,” Carberry responds. “When they get to finals, Killoe don't normally lose them. I know their pedigree and what I face on Sunday.

“I played with Newtowncashel for 16 years senior, and then I bought a house near Killoe and moved there in 2008. I'm with them since 2008.”

Coaching teams at every level has been a worthwhile experience for Carberry. When a managerial offer came from Colmcille, though, Carberry was on a tour of duty in Lebanon. “I was overseas in Lebanon last year when I got the call to manage them,” he says.

“So, I didn't get to take over until May last year when I got home. I'd two lads in place to do the stuff I was sending home for the team. I got home in May, we were in Division Two, we won Division Two, got promoted. Then, we got to the senior final.”

Losing that match to Abbeylara after extra-time hurt, but Colmcille have demonstrated resilience to return to the Longford showpiece. “Our panel was really tested this year because we'd an awful lot of injuries,” he says.

“We didn't really field our full team or close to our full team until the quarter-final. We'd lost the league final, we came second in the league by a point. The lads really put their shoulder to the wheel, from one to thirty something, they've been awesome, brilliant lads.

“It is nice to get back to another final, especially after the disappointment we had last year. The semi-final win was encouraging, we were underdogs going in, the lads put in a good performance. In the second half, they really stood up, we won a lot of battles, our match-ups worked, but you can't get carried away with that. We got bet in the final last year, and we're no further on.

“You've to go through the whole process again to earn your right to get back there. We've had a hard run. In the quarter-final we were against the reigning champions, the favourites to win it out in the semi-final, and now we've Killoe, who'd be favourites going into this final. If we do win this one, we will certainly have earned it.”

Carberry relishes being involved with teams. “I like coaching, you like to see the rewards, and when you put a process in place, and seeing it working.

“You've so many ups and downs, and emotions with coaching, it can be hard to explain it or put into words, but there is a buzz you get. Other people get a buzz in other ways, I get it from doing a bit of coaching.

“There is a challenge in it, I've been coaching since 2009, that is when I started. I've been involved with senior teams or development squads since that.

“When you finish playing, it is great to stay involved in something you've done all of your life. The friends and camaraderie you've got, you get friends for life through sport.”

Next month Carberry will return to Lebanon. In a way it offers a chance to refresh and reflect on football. “Sometimes it is good because it can give you that break,” Carberry says. “When you're coaching non stop, you do get burnt out.

“So, it gives you that break. You're hungry then when you come back from the six months. I'm heading again in November, that will be my eighth trip. It keeps you going.”

While there mightn’t be any club matches on the agenda, the soldiers with an interest in GAA keep training and fit. “When overseas, you might have a lot of lads getting ready to play with their clubs,” he explains.

“Any of the GAA players out there, we'd have pre-season training. We'd all get together. We'd have footballs and you'd have lads hurling.

“We'd all train together so that when lads come back, they're nearly ready to step in with their clubs. They don't finish training when they go out there. It can be a good place to train because it keeps the mind busy too. It will be my fifth time to the Leb, I was in Chad and Kosovo.

“I've always been lucky where the trips have corresponded or been off season. I did a few summer trips when I was finished playing myself. It is your job at the end of the day, I know football is your passion and hobby, but you've to look after the job, too.”

Carberry is finding a way. A hectic weekend beckons in Longford.