By Cian O’Connell

A lifetime spent monitoring matches, training teams, and assisting footballers has taught James McCarthy many lessons.

So on Cork SFC Final week when Castlehaven are involved, McCarthy embraces the build up. Sunday’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh decider against Nemo Rangers, the most prolific winners of the competition, will be a severe test.

During the past four campaigns Haven have integrated emerging talent alongside the established players. “We have a lot of young lads coming up through the ranks,” McCarthy explains.

“Blooding them in was part of the job too, that has gone fairly well this year. Since we started four years ago to now we have a changed team, but not the panel. The panel has stayed in that we have lost nobody really. A lot of young lads have come through which is brilliant.”

McCarthy generally has only remained with a team for two campaigns before passing the baton over. There is something about this Castlehaven crop, though, that keeps bringing him back. “They do, the personalities involved,” he laughs.

“It is hard to say no to them, especially Mark Collins there, and Brian Hurley, those boys. They'd be putting a bit of pressure on to stay on, so hopefully we can get over the line on Sunday, but it isn’t going to be easy.”

In west Cork a passion for football endures. McCarthy sees that on a daily basis as a Games Development Administrator for Cork GAA. “We are near enough to the Kerry border down here, so it is bred into us a bit more in the west for football,” he says.

“When one team does well, it drives on other club teams around us. Hopefully if we do get over the line to bring the cup west, it might rise the boats for other clubs to take on the city clubs a bit more.”

Retaining players and keeping them immersed in activities is key according to McCarthy. “That is where the bit of spirit comes from,” he says.

“We have lost very few players, but they are still on the panel fighting for places. The younger lads then energise the group. I've lads with me, who started off in 2003 when we won a county way back, they are still on the panel, pushing on the young lads which is brilliant.

“In some of the bigger clubs that wouldn't happen because if you had a couple of bad games they'd bring in someone else and the player moves on. Here, we cannot afford to do that.

“I remember Mark Collins first game, he is still going. He is one of the best players in the county still. It is their development, commitment, and passion, it is all the one. You see with a lot of clubs, players fade away, but not around here. We need everyone. We try to hold on to them as long as possible.

“To be fair, they are brilliant with the younger players coming through too. I think the club is in a good place going ahead. Are we good enough to win on Sunday? Hopefully, but if not for the foreseeable future we will be knocking on the door.”

That is vital for McCarthy, to stay relevant and challenging for honours. Undoubtedly being in charge of an able club team is a commitment, but there is joy too.

“There is, of course, I don't think anybody does it against their will even though you have nights when you'd rather be at home by the fire during the winter, but you know the rewards are good,” he says.

“We are dealing with a good group of players, who are committed, there is very little hassle with them. The only problem is the organisation of how, when, and where to train because of our geography down here. Most of the boys are either going to college or are working in the city.”

The logistical challenge continues, but ensuring Castlehaven are primed for Championship matches is the mission McCarthy wants to accomplish. “It is and trying to keep them fresh,” he responds.

“It is nine or 10 months of the year, we start early because of the league. If we bring them down twice a week early in the year they will be burnt out by this time of the year. It is about trying to gauge it, to keep them fresh. During the winter a lot of them train in the city and we train here.”

Football is on the agenda most of the time for McCarthy. “My day job is working full time for the GAA, so I do a fair bit of coaching, the block layer doesn't want to go building his house when he goes home,” McCarthy chuckles.

“Whatever about me, our management set-up is after getting stronger every year. That takes the pressure off me on the pitch. The more organised you are, the more enjoyable it is. I think the day of doing everything and not delegating. That day is gone. You will get burnt out.”

In an overall context McCarthy believes something is really beginning to stir in Cork football. Signs of encouragement have been available recently. “We did go down the grades a fair bit, we weren't competing at a higher level,” McCarthy says.

“John Cleary, a clubmate of my own here, has re-energised the senior team again, they are competing at a level where they should be.

“Now, they are hoping to go maybe a step further. Our underage structures over the last six or seven years have been good, the results have been very good. We are after winning U20 and minor All-Irelands and we're always fairly competitive.

“The problem was we maybe weren't bringing them through and we weren't gelling as a group. We were rotating players every year, maybe young lads coming in too soon, going in one door and out the other door fairly fast.

“We are getting better structures wise in Cork, we have a long way to go, but I think you have good people involved at all age groups.

“Our squads are good, we have good people involved, hopefully we are building blocks without getting carried away thinking we are going to be winning All-Irelands very soon.”

In west Cork, Castlehaven are enjoying a productive spell. It provides hope. McCarthy has occupied a central role in the rejuvenation process.