Coláiste Naomh Cormac ready for another decider

By Cian O'Connell

Padraig Kennedy is fully aware that these truly are special times for Coláiste Naomh Cormac.

Another All-Ireland final is on the agenda for the Kilcormac school, who face St Joseph's Borrisoleigh in the C decider in Borrisokane on Friday. "There is a great buzz in the school for the last couple of days," he says.

"This is our third All-Ireland final in the last five years, which is unheard of so the boys are nearly half used to it.

"I'm trying to get into their heads, that this is rare, and to enjoy the moment because it may never come around again."

Significant work is being carried out by progressive clubs in the area. "Kilcormac-Killoughey would be our main club, but we'd also pull from Drumcullen, Kinnity, and Brosna Gaels," he explains.

"Half the boys from Kinnity would go to our school and the others would go to a different school. Kilcormac is our main club, but we've three or four other clubs feeding in, too."

As a teacher, Kennedy acknowledges the work that has been carried out by clubs and schools in Offaly. Underage and schools titles have been accumulated.
"There is great interest in it, the clubs are doing a lot of work in the background," Kennedy says.

"They're pushing really hard. The Faithful Fields helps a lot, if you drive past it on a Saturday morning, they've an awful lot of young fellas out hurling.

"There is great work going on in Offaly to try to promote hurling, to try to get back to the top. That is good to see."

Kennedy sensed that there was potential in the current senior team. "It can all depend on the class group you get in," Kennedy remarks.

"We won the Junior C last year so I knew this group would be good. The sixth years, the boys who weren't hurling last year, really drove that on. It depends on the crop of lads you get in at the start of the year.

"There is a lot of work going on in the school. They've first year, second year, junior, and senior teams. We've a small number, we've only 300 kids so it all depends on what you get in through first year."

As a hurler with Lorrha-Dorrha, Kennedy learned from accomplished coaches, including the highly regarded Ken Hogan. "Ken trained me all my life, really, all the way through from underage and a few years at senior," Kennedy says.

"So, I've played under plenty of good coaches, you'd take stuff from them all. If you don't play hurling, you don't really have anything else going for you in Lorrha. That is the way it is.

"Everyone plays, underage, especially. We try to keep it going for adult level, we've a small population, too. So, we just try to keep it going."

Coláiste Naomh Cormac continue to make an impact on the Offaly, Leinster, and national stage. Kennedy is enjoying the journey.