The Turloughmore team before the Galway SHC semi-final win over Loughrea at Pearse Stadium.
By Cian O'Connell
Joe Hession knows just how much planning and plotting has gone into Turloughmore’s first Galway SHC Final appearance since 1990.
As a player, supporter, and joint manager, Hession has been involved in nearly every step of that journey with Turlough, who face St Thomas’ in a very attractive western decider at Kenny Park on Sunday.
A call from Gerry Burke, a totemic figure in the Corofin Gaelic Football story, who scored a hat-trick of gorgeous points in the 1998 AIB All Ireland Club win over Erins Isle at Croke Park, put Hession on the coaching pathway.
That adventure continues at the weekend, alongside his pals Franny Forde and Barry Cullinane, who continue to afford Turlough sterling service.
“I started back in 2007, Gerry Burke, Ronan and Daithí's dad, was the manager of the minor team,” Hession explains. “He asked me to help out and we got to the minor final in 2007 against Thomas'. Franny was also a coach that year too.
“We drew with Thomas' the first day and won the replay. Then in 2011 Gerry Linnane had been the manager of the Feile team that won the All Ireland in 2010.
“So in 2011 he asked me to get involved and I've been there since bringing these guys along.” Hession has had some sort of coaching role with Turlough in the intervening time, but others will always be afforded a warm welcome.
“I do think it is important that you add new voices to the set-up as you go along through,” Hession admits. “We did that with Barry in 2016 and Peter (Fahy).
“Franny (Forde) and Cyril (Donnellan) have come on board this year. So I think it is important even though the messages are probably the same, but they are coming from different voices and characters.
“I feel that is important too. It also develops inside in the group, you are encouraging guys to get involved. It isn't a closed shop. You want people to come in with new ideas, the players like that and they respond to that too.”
Galway star Daithí Burke is an influential figure for Turloughmore.
Hession assisted in developing Turlough’s underage teams, but he was always ready, willing, and able to learn too.
In 2017 James Horan was brought in by Turloughmore and Hession was delighted to be involved. Different methods were monitored; information was taken on board.
“I think when you sit down to look at things he showed us what it takes to have a structure in place for guys to go to play,” Hession states.
“The big thing he had was that you have got to work hard. That can be talked about, but you really have to see it. The big imprint James left was probably on the management side of it because Barry, Peter, and myself had worked with him the year he was manager.
“The way he went about things, his belief and stuff like that - what it really takes, he probably instilled that in us. That helped us in 2018 and 2019, now getting Franny on board too.”
Forde, the thoughtful and meticulous coach, was part of Micheal Donoghue’s All Ireland winning backroom team, while his successful spell with St Rynagh’s carries relevance also
“We know what he has done on the inter-county side of things, but people might forget Franny trained Banagher to a county title,” Hession adds.
“That took a couple of years to get there. The one thing James did show us as a management was that it takes an awful lot of hard work. It doesn't happen overnight. It is going to take a little bit every year, getting to those knockout games, gaining the experience from that.”
More than a decade of sheer hard graft has been invested by Turlough into this gifted collection of hurlers. Setbacks occurred, but Hession’s perseverance is now being rewarded on the grand stage of the Galway game.
“For this group of players they probably don't have any history at senior level of getting to finals,” Hession acknowledges. “A lot of them wouldn't remember 30 years ago, all they have done over the last few years is stayed improving, stayed hurling improving their skillset, and getting fitter and stronger.
Turloughmore joint manager Franny Forde guided St Rynagh's to Offaly SHC glory in 2016.
“That has led to them winning their games in the Championship this year - some hard fought games. I think they are just delighted to have another game, they don't really see it as a final as such. It is another game and another opportunity to just go to play.”
There was a vision to Turloughmore’s approach. Ultimately that is one of the chief reasons they will compete with an accomplished St Thomas’ outfit. The Turlough Intermediates reached a Galway semi-final, another sign illustrating the amount of energy invested.
“I think so and looking back on the club previously we probably hadn't won an Under 21,” Hession stresses about integrating emerging talent.
“Winning two of those was a big help because you kept a certain age group hurling competitively for a year or two when we were winning those competitions. Even now we are still very competitive at Under 21 which is important.
“Sometimes it maybe isn't about winning them, it is about keeping guys coming through, pushing the guys ahead of them. It means them guys are looking over their shoulder seeing there is a younger guy coming, who is eager to play. Definitely you have to stay being competitive.
“That starts at a young age and bringing it up along, gaining experience from playing in those knockout games. That is all it is. Turlough haven't played in a lot of knockout games over the past 10 years.
“I'd say probably five or so. That experience, you have to gain it. Winning underage and being successful is a help, but it is only part of the process. It is getting to the senior knockout games which is key for the development of these young lads.”
It is an area that remains of real interest to Hession: assisting young hurlers. Unfortunately the Covid pandemic thwarted so many underage inter-county tournaments this year. Hession has soldiered alongside a true Galway hurling man, Niall Canavan, in recent campaigns.
“This year I was to be involved with the Academy, the Galway Under 15s, which I was last year, Niall Canavan is the manager there, but it was pulled due to Covid,” Hession laments.
“That is very enjoyable too, it is a step away from the club. You are seeing players from around the county and the talent that is out there. Again Galway has loads of young talent coming through which is great to see.”
Joe Hession played for Galway in the 1997 All Ireland MHC Final defeat against Clare at Croke Park.
It has been a sporting year like no other. Challenges, though, have been embraced by every club and organisation in the world. Turloughmore are simply thrilled that momentum has been generated in the west of Ireland. The enforced split season has ensured Turlough’s fortunes matter deeply.
“I think so, regardless of what county you look at and we have been lucky enough to see games on TV, the competitiveness of every county, including Galway,” Hession replies.
Despite the significant restrictions in a strange way sport has never been so relevant in people’s lives. “I think having everyone training night in, night out - that is where they want to be,” Hession remarks.
“These are such strange times and hard times, especially when you have such a young squad. They are hard times because they don't have a lot else going on.
“I think I've said before between family, work, and a little bit of study those guys needed sport as an outlet, somewhere to go to meet with their friends.
“Even that is strange because of the environment they are going into is strange. No dressing rooms, no meetings, you are trying to do everything properly to stay safe.
“The guys have bought into it and they have really enjoyed it. I think they come to training with a smile on their faces. Guys aren't missing sessions, they are there every night, they are there early. They just want to play.
“That is the one thing the GAA would have seen from this, when things were at a low ebb in March and April the GAA community got involved, stepped up. Even on the field the joy the supporters are getting throughout Ireland from watching club games, watching TV, watching people play putting a smile on their faces is fantastic. Let us hope that it continues into the future.”
Hession is completely aware of Turlough’s silverware laden past: eight Galway titles were secured by 1985. Being in the mix for prestigious honours again is a reminder of the progress made.
Getting back into this arena, when the stakes are piled high in Athenry, is precisely where Turlough want to be. There is no doubt that Hession’s passion and purpose helped to spearhead the revival.
