Ferns St Aidan's manager Pat Bennett.
By Cian O’Connell
Pat Bennett’s enthusiasm and passion for hurling endures. A deep and meaningful connection has been forged with Ferns St Aidan’s, who captured a first Wexford SHC title in August.
For Bennett that is what taking a team is about - making a group believe and get better. It means that friendships are crafted, but from an early stage Bennett just relished the Ferns environment.
“From day one - Joe Morris was the manager, Padraig Bailey was there, and I get on really well with the two lads,” Bennett says.
“I was doing the coaching and they were involved. They had been with them from U10s up along. The lads then decided that they wanted a change of voice, I said that is fine.
“We were all leaving, as such. Then they wanted me to go in as manager and coaching too. So I ended up doing both this year. was even saying to myself what is the difference going to be. In fairness to Joe we always talked it out, we spoke, and we got on really well. If I'm down and I stay I stay at Joe's overnight. They are brilliant to me. It is just a lovely club.
“Sometimes you connect. I have been there for four years. You know yourself at training, you know when you aren't going to bring a team further, and you think you need to step away to let somebody else in.
“After three or four years you think you might be saying that, but these guys seem to keep responding to what I ask. Whatever I ask they do it. As long as that keeps happening you're happy.”
So it has been a productive stint for Bennett and Ferns. Having been involved at every level of the game Bennett remained adamant about Ferns’ considerable potential.
“They are really good hurlers, they are really dedicated, and they will do whatever you ask them to do,” he says. “I think when you have a team that is doing that they always have a chance. It is just we were getting caught.
Ian Byrne and Pat Bennett celebrate following Ferns St Aidan's Wexford SHC win in August.
“We got caught in a semi-final, we got caught in two quarter-finals by the team that won it out. You are trying to get into their heads saying we are as good as any team.
“When you haven't won it there is always that thing in the back of your head - are we good enough to win this really? Eventually it sank in this year, they realised that they are actually as good.”
Encouraging signs were available throughout 2022 according to Bennett. “I think after the quarter-final win over Glynn-Barntown it all sank in that time and they thought they could win,” he adds.
“It went from there and it picked up. You could see the belief in them. Even in the semi-final we were down by six with seven minutes to go, but at no stage did I think we were going to lose it.
“So that is funny when you get that thing when you're on the line. They believed too, they just keep going and going.”
Bennett is doing that too. Assisting players is what Bennett wants to accomplish in every role. That willingness to help is critical.
“I have done every development squad in Waterford from U12 to senior hurling, I've done every grade, I've been involved with everyone, I know them all,” he says.
“What you really like is when you come into a team and say they are going to be better by the time I'm finished.
“When you see players coming and I see the Waterford team playing the Underdogs the other night. I would have trained all of those guys.”
Pat Bennett celebrates with Ferns St Aidan's players at Chadwicks Wexford Park in August.
Bennett’s sons have given distinguished service to Waterford, while he has contributed handsomely as a coach in the club, college, and inter-county ranks. Watching talented performers flare to prominence always provides a drop of satisfaction for Bennett. “Paddy Fitz (Fitzgerald) with Ballygunner, I would have trained him at 15,” Bennett adds.
“You see these guys and say, yeah he has got it. You know he has got it because he has the right attitude too. You need to have so much.
“When you go up to 18 or 19, it is a big step to go from minor into senior. A lot of young fellas at that stage leave it, they don't have the determination, plus they don't have the discipline for what it takes at inter-county now. You know these guys will do it and it is great when you see them improving.”
Ferns’ mixture of graft and crafted counted for so much in the current campaign according to Bennett. “That is the one thing about Ferns this year, they actually were dedicated, they put it in, and they deserved to win,” he says.
“That is why I was so happy for them, they actually did deserve to win it. They committed to it and they did it. Sometimes you've teams that don't commit and you're thinking they are only half at it. If you're half at anything you are going to come second and second is last.”
Now Ferns are preparing for an AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-final against Carlow’s St Mullin’s at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.
There is a real sense of hope about featuring on this stage. “100 per cent, when you win your first one you are always excited,” Bennett replies.
“It is all about new things and stuff like that. It has just been a long gap, we have had 12 weeks. I know we've had football, but it has been a long time waiting. You pick up injuries, but look everybody is excited. It will be their first time ever playing in the Leinster club so it is nice.”
Bennett is still providing guidance and making an impact.
