Dublin goalkeeper Brennan proud of his craft
Cuala and Dublin hurler, Seán Brennan, pictured at the announcement of Amgen’s extended title sponsorship of Cuala GAA. Under the agreement, Amgen will sponsor four adult hurling teams, five adult men’s football teams, four adult camogie teams and four adult ladies’ football teams. The partnership extends beyond the pitch, with Amgen providing one principal bursary and four supplementary bursaries annually to Cuala students entering third-level education in STEM and related fields.
By Paul Keane
Seán Brennan remembers his Dad suggesting that he jump in goals back around the time he was playing Féile hurling for Cuala.
"I wasn't great outfield, to be honest," said Brennan, who was lucky enough to have his father involved in the coaching team. "Dad was like, 'Ah jump in goals, sure'. And that's how I kind of ended up doing it."
That's over half a lifetime ago for the 31-year-old who has managed to establish himself in more recent years as Dublin's number one goalkeeper.
Chances are he'll line out again this Saturday evening when Dublin get their Leinster SHC campaign underway against Offaly in Tullamore.
But he does want to make an important point about goalkeeping now - that it isn't for players who aren't good enough to make it outfield, as he felt about himself.
And that's a stereotype that his club, Cuala, are keen to smash as well, putting a big emphasis these days on identifying and developing young players who are interested in exploring their potential as goalkeepers.
"It's often been the case that someone lands in goals rather than saying, 'I really want to be in goals', so that's what we're trying to foster at the club, to get someone at 14 or 15 years of age saying, 'This is what I really want to do' and then you can develop them from a younger age and guide them through the process," said Brennan.
Cuala goalkeeper Seán Brennan saving a penalty for Cuala. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
If keeping goals still seems boring or unattractive, consider that no other player on the Dublin team this weekend will be guaranteed as many possessions as Brennan. And it won't be a case of going through the motions and simply striking it as far as possible, hurling restarts are a science all of their own now. And goalkeepers are far more involved in general play too, often presenting themselves as an option for passes from defenders as Brennan regularly does.
"It's completely different to what it was four or five years ago," nodded Brennan. "The in-play involvement has gone up significantly. With the puck-outs, you're probably trying to find men rather than hitting areas. And you do have a lot of influence on the game generally. But ultimately your job is still to keep the ball out of the back of the net. That's first and foremost what you're there to do. Everything else will stem from that."
Brennan was speaking at the announcement that Amgen has extended its title sponsorship of Cuala GAA through to 2029. The launch took place at Croke Park where he played against Wexford in February, saving a penalty in an important draw that evening which went a long way towards securing Dublin's promotion from Division 1B of the Allianz League.
He is proud of his goalkeeping craft and outlined just how much work he puts into it.
"Depth perception would be the biggest thing for me," said Brennan, explaining the preparatory work he undertakes around puckouts. "You're trying to learn the depth perception on the pitch because you've got six-foot-two lads who are holding 35 or 36-inch hurleys and it can be hard to see lines of sight from where you are as the goalkeeper.
Pictured at the announcement of Amgen’s extended title sponsorship of Cuala GAA at Croke Park are Séan Brennan (Cuala player), Aisling Fay, Chairperson, Jennifer MacNeill Minster For Health, Paul Greene, Vice President, Site Operations, Amgen, Rachel Hartnett (Cuala player).
"Sometimes, if you're sitting up the stand, you're going 'Why is the goalkeeper not hitting this or that pass or puck-out?' But it's a completely different picture you're getting on the ground so I'd use a lot of high behind cameras to help build that intuition in myself, to trust when the space is there. That helps me to trust the gaps, to trust the space. Like, there can be times when you look back at a puck-out and you didn't realise there was actually 40 yards of space in an area and you're going to yourself, 'Jeez, how did I not hit that?'"
As iron sharpens iron, Brennan and Eddie Gibbons keep the pressure on each other to perform. Brennan started five of Dublin's seven League games this season, including the final against Clare. Kilmacud Crokes man Gibbons was in nets for the wins over Kildare and Down. On both of those occasions, Gibbons kept a clean sheet.
"The competition is absolutely ferocious," said Brennan of how he and Gibbons spark off each other. "Eddie's one of the top class 'keepers in the game. I think we're in a very good position with our goalkeeping team in Dublin. I don't think there's many counties that would have as good of a one and two that are there, in terms of the competition between the two of us.
"Whoever gets the jersey this weekend, they've absolutely deserved it. Because I know it's been an absolute battle for whoever is lucky enough to wear it and that's been the case for the last few years.
"Eddie came in in 2022, it's been that way since he came in. He's phenomenal, and an unbelievable trainer. His skill set is incredible so if I do pip him to it, it won't have been easy."
