Mikey Geaney is still enjoying the Daingean Uí Chúis journey

By Cian O’Connell

“There are only four clubs in the country still playing senior championship, it is great to be one of them,” Daingean Uí Chúis’ Mikey Geaney says as Sunday’s intriguing AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Final against St Brigid’s edges closer.

Daingean Uí Chúis hadn’t won a Kerry SFC title since 1945 so for this talented crop of footballers it is a sweet time. “It has been a rollercoaster ride,” Geaney adds.

“Back from winning our first county championship, fast forward three months, you wouldn't have expected it, but we're hoping just to soak it up as much as we can, and to enjoy the experience.”

Considering the talented players developed in the club during the past couple of decades, did Geaney always believe that Daingean Uí Chúis could reach the Croke Park stage? “Without being short about it, this was never really on our radar,” Geaney responds.

“I'm not saying that we didn't ever believe it, but we were so tunnel vision on winning a county final. When you've lost three county championship finals, nothing else beyond that is in the plan.

“Two years ago, we obviously got to a Munster final, through the backdoor. So, that gave us a small bit of experience of a Munster campaign.

“It'd be very easy after winning our first county final, that the motivation would be zapped a small bit. There was a bit wrongs to be righted after the penalty loss a couple of years ago in the Munster championship. That kept us going and kept us motivated.

“It has snowballed since. Obviously, the way we won the last two games has probably really given us the buzz we need.”

Resilience has been demonstrated in epic victories over St Finbarr’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s. Somehow, Daingean Uí Chúis found a way to survive. “I said after the last game, the thing is, when you get to that stage when you're seven or eight points down with less than 20 minutes to go or something, tactically there is not much to do, only have a go at it,” Geaney reflects.

“You might as well have a crack at it, even to see can you put a bit of pressure. We don't plan to go six or seven points down, but the bit of chaos got us going in the last couple of games. It definitely isn't something we'd be planning on doing on Sunday.

“We're going to have to be a lot smarter than that, we will have to start better. We know we can finish strongly. That is more the plan now.”

Under duress, Daingean Uí Chúis remained cool. “We've a lot of experienced players, who've played in big games,” Geaney says.

“I think the main thing about it all, is that in both games, there was never a stage where we panicked. We kicked a few high balls in during the semi-final, but that was just to see could we get something going rather than us panicking and going route one.”

An Ghaeltacht have already collected the AIB All-Ireland Intermediate crown. Highlighting the passion and grá that exists for the game in West Kerry, Geaney is thoroughly enjoying the adventure.

The fact that so many of An Ghaeltacht and Daingean Uí Chúis panels triumphed in the Hogan Cup for Pobalscoil Dhuibhne is another layer to the story. “We're an hour from everywhere,” Geaney explains.

“It is a small community back there. A lot of the players, there isn't many fellas left that I'd have played with in school in divisional sides, but the guts of both teams would've come from the teams that won back-to-back Hogan Cups.

“For a small school like Pobalscoil, it was an incredible achievement. You look at the players from both sides, who went on to win All-Stars and All-Ireland medals. It is no co-incidence that both clubs are reaping the benefit of that now. They were very special groups of players that won. Both clubs are now backboned by those teams.

“It is fantastic for the locality. It is just a small part of the county. Just to be riding the wave, obviously they got the win last week, and we've got to match that this week. Hopefully we can have a clean sweep for the county.”