Weekend Sport Irish Examiner Saturday, 19.05.2018

6 THE BIG INTERVIEW

THE JOHN FOGARTY INTERVIEW Twenty years ago, there were the three shadowy priests who, it was claimed, had knowledge of ’s suspension before the Munster Council had even met to decide his faith. In , Seánie McMahon, and , meanwhile, Clare had the three wise kings, forming one of ’s greatest half-back lines. Two decades on from the Banner’s last Munster SHC success and the All- title that got away, the trio recall that tumultuous summer of ’98, from Lynch’s ban to Jimmy Cooney’s bad time-keeping The one that got away from Banner brothers

John Fogarty: Twenty years on, how ship. Did you feel unstoppable after win- anyway. We were a small bit hit and miss. I SM: It was when you consider (Michael) does that season and Clare’s last Munster ning Munster? remember saying to you (nods to Daly) Duignan drew straight (across David SHC success sit with you? LD: After the first day against Water- after the first game that I wasn’t Forde). It (Lynch’s ban) was the greatest Liam Doyle: The three-game saga with ford, you could say we were lucky to get a anyway nervous or anxious and that was disappointment. Whatever happened hap- Offaly is what sticks out the most. My one second day. We knew in training the fol- maybe because we were a bit flat having pened but who was giving the evidence disappointment is that we could have lowing week, it was fairly rammed into us, been so up for the game. That was the was fairly ridiculous. participated in another All-Ireland final. that the replay wasn’t too far off being an Clare captain way we were, Jekyll and Hyde, but back up AD: Sure, even Jimmy Cooney said it Anthony Daly: We were in it, sure. For All-Ireland final. We were told that we had Anthony Daly for the second Waterford game. We had in- himself —and I’ve nothing against Jimmy about four hours! to stand up and be counted. juries and suspensions for the Offaly Cooney for blowing the whistle, that was a LD: And the pints were for four hours JF: How much did Ger protect the shields the ball games. mistake — but he said he would ruin the too! players from the controversies, deflect like from Offaly’s John LD: I still regret to this day that I played game if he sent off we AD: Your man () saying, Jose Mourinho? Ryan in the but… I tore ligaments in my ankle in the were so far ahead. Who gives you the right “Get up to bed, you’re playing again next SM: The thing got so big it wasn’t a case controversial replay. was missing too (hav- not to ruin the game? week”. of protecting the players; it was all around 1998 All-Ireland ing been sent off in the replay against SM: That was caught on the telly after- JF: Long before all that, there was a us. You couldn’t avoid it, really. I always SHC semi-final, a Waterford) but when Colin got sus- wards. Lynch’s thing was totally post the league semi-final against Cork, where remember the Friday night before the first pended… I had a fitness test where we met match. We all have the best of time for Clare were accused of taking a fall know- game against Offaly, the night that (Colin) game that had to up beforehand and I got the go-ahead. But I Duignan but where was the parity? ing you had to play them again in Lynch got the three-month suspension. I be replayed after regret playing because I didn’t give myself AD: It was for Colin more than our- Munster. didn’t sleep a wink that night, I was so a time-keeping enough time to recover. selves. We had a good panel and fellas were Seánie McMahon: That was always the mad. We were all of the view that we were error by referee JF: Jamesie O’Connor spoke before going well in training and the likes of story when we lost a league game, that we being hard done by. You couldn’t avoid Jimmy Cooney. about the off-field developments sapping Rusty (Christy Chaplin) could come in and trained savage that morning. We never, that. I would feel that year we played our Picture: Ray energy — did they? do a job, no bother, but he was a huge loss. ever trained the morning of a game. We best hurling and had we got to the final AD: Everybody is different. Personally, It was for him as a person that we felt for probably fed off a lot from Loughnane and there was no possibility that we wouldn’t McManus it didn’t bother me. I never got off on that him; he had given up so much for hurling. it wasn’t a case of ‘lads, don’t win today’ have won it; Kilkenny weren’t that great sort of stuff. I was fucking loving it when You couldn’t be at training before Lynch. If but we didn’t have that extra bit of drive. everybody was you were there at 5.50pm for 7pm training, Around about that time, the league was yapping about us. he’d be there out on the field. gone nearly crazy. All the games were But as a unit, JF: When you hear Seán Kelly, then savage and we probably came to the real- there’s no doubt it Munster Council chairman, expressing re- isation that the league wasn’t the be-all was a huge dis- gret about Lynch’s suspension on the RTÉ and end-all. I always felt when you won an traction. I also re- Scannal documentary about Clare’s 1998, All-Ireland, winning the league after that member that Fri- does it ring hollow? didn’t matter. The priority for us was day night of the LD: I only saw the documentary on always the first round in Munster against meeting in Limer- YouTube three weeks ago. It probably does Cork. We were well beaten, we didn’t go ick. It came on the (ring hollow). Dalo said it affected players out to play badly but it wasn’t a goal. late news, I was differently and he’s right. Who decided to AD: The booze-up in Liscannor was sitting at home bring Lynch to court? You can say that be- good that Sunday. with the mother, cause it was so much in the media. In that JF: Was that the last of the drink before and “There’s way, it would be disappointing because he facing Cork again? Mikey Palmer,” I was no doubt a loss to us with the amount AD: That was it. We swore to a man that says. He was of energy he gave us and the amount of nobody would have another until then. working with ground he’d cover. I would have been When you think of it now, they’re banning Lynch’s crowd, covering the two boys anyway but he’d them (from alcohol) for eight months Lynch’s father give me a hand-out at times. Colin took it AD: I remember coming back to Power’s doing the coal and to another level from his own personal (in Clarecastle) but I don’t remember the briquettes. A preparations. much of the match, really. I do remember big Clare crowd AD: Thank God, there wasn’t social coming back and meeting an awful sound had gone into the media back then. It would have been an- fella from Clarecastle, Peter Cosgrove. A Inn. other day’s work. Around the time of the dead-on GAA fan, a Clarecastle fan, a Then it was (er- documentary, Christy O’Connor and my- Clare fan. He said to me, “Dalo, will you roneously) said self were going down to the Munster club ever stop wasting my money? Will ya let Lynch’s grand- final and Seán Kelly was going in the same me know when you’re not trying in these mother was dead gate as us. We got chatting but I said: “We league matches? I’m after bringing the to make it worse. I won’t mention ’98. At least you came to kids and the wife to Thurles and spent on was a bit dis- (Munster) medals presentation after- petrol, grub, and a couple of pints — will tracted going to wards”. ya ever just let us know so I could stay at bed that night. I He said: “We got that one a bit wrong al- home and wait for the Championship?” felt more for Colin right.” I said, “Cossy, I didn’t realise we were than anything JF: How did Colin take it at the time? off either! I was trying anyways!” Nobody else because we SM: Lynch would be a man’s man, like. was going out to play bad, like. He (Lough- were all wired for He wouldn’t have let on. He was disap- nane) didn’t ramp it up. He didn’t do what that replay pointed but he wasn’t going around cry- he would do the week of a Championship against Water- ing. He would still have been thinking of match, into the goalmouth and savage us ford. Okay, he let the team. He still trained. There was al- all. He set the tone. rip but the ways the talk he might get back on an ap- JF: It was an incredible summer in punishment was peal and a deal being done for the third many ways, getting as many games (six) as miles beyond the (Offaly) match. Clare would hope to get this Champion- crime. JF: The group must have felt like they Saturday, 19.05.2018 Irish Examiner Weekend Sport

THE BIG INTERVIEW 7

broke a mirror with all the bad luck you the stewards came in so quick. He didn’t FRIENDS wouldn’t give us much say in what we night before the match my brother had. have time to make up his mind, like. were doing but it would have been better. dropped dead in London. To tell you the AD: As Seánie said, we were becoming JF: You say you were wired but was it a REUNITED: Liam We would have turned the tables on Offaly. truth, I was reconciled to it fairly quick. I Jekyll and Hyde in our performances. We case of going overboard with the siege Doyle, Sean Like, it wasn’t our fault. was up in for the final and the fol- were wired for Cork, jumping the wire out mentality? McMahon, and LD: Byrne made five saves. lowing morning my phone — I had a mo- on the field. Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Dr LD: Colin’s suspension was on the news Anthony Daly AD: Danny Scanlan’s chance? Jaysus. bile, which wasn’t common —kept ringing Con (Murphy) and Jim Cashman were around the clock but we had to stay fo- reflect on Clare’s SM: Alan (Markham) had a couple of like a hand grenade beside the bed. My there in a huddle and I screamed: “Get out cused. We had to try and keep it out of our shots. brother told me that Paschal was dead. of my fucking way!”. They moved and Dr minds as much as possible. golden days at AD: We done enough to win the third That fairly put it to bed, to tell you the Con told me years later that he said to AD: With hindsight, the first thing we Dromoland game and it would have been sweet to win truth, because he probably would have Jimmy: “We’re in trouble here, boy”. should have done was get out of Dublin Castle. it that way. Nobody would have gotten been in my mother’s house — he came Then in the first Waterford game be- first thing Monday morning. I still think Picture: Eamon more pleasure out of it than us that way. home for all the big games. His time was cause we had the better of them most of the we should have replayed it but we should Ward The real hard road. up, he had a heart attack and it put in con- time and hadn’t played them much in have gone home to Clare and bought our- JF: Did the board have your backs text for me. Championship there was a feeling we were selves a couple of days and not go into the throughout the season? If you told the three of us that we would hot favourites as All-Ireland champions. bowels of Croke Park the following morn- AD: There was no board — there was have won three Munsters and two All-Ire- We were down for it, ramped it up for the ing. While that was going on, we were Loughnane and that was it! lands we would have taken the hand off replay then down again for the first day being ran around Belfield. It was all wrong LD: We didn’t really take any notice. We you. against Offaly. to me. We should have been out in the were only thinking about the games and A Kilkenny fella would probably be It lingered into ’99 as well when we were Forty Foot having a swim, recovering. Ger was calling the shots. He probably more bitter about it, looking for his eighth poxed to get a draw against Tipp but like SM: I missed that anyway (training consulted with Dalo but that was it. medal. We still felt we had a great chance lunatics in the replay. It was the way Ger session). AD: I remember when he came into the in ’99 and I often feel we let that away more managed as well, it was all duck or no AD: I didn’t do it. “I’m not doing it, Mike bar to tell us to go to bed and I told him that than ’98 because if we got over Kilkenny dinner. You were either psyched out of (McNamara),” I said. (Imitating McNama- we’d play them again and we’ll beat them. into a final against Cork having lost to your head or flat andwe were great at flat. ra) “I’m surprised in you, you’re the fuck- Because I didn’t want winning an All-Ire- them in the Munster final… I remember At the same time, it seemed like they (offi- ing captain.” I told (Ollie) Baker not to do it land and people saying, “Ah, you didn’t (Brian) Lohan jumping up on your (nods cials) were going to stop us whatever way as well —we were throwing a rugby ball to really win that one”. We had a general feel- to McMahon) back for that high ball and they can. We were using that in training. It each other. Playing again the following ing that way but what I said then was a leaving DJ (Carey) behind him. We felt was probably how we got such a good per- week in Thurles, if you watch it again rush of blood to the head. We should have there was another one in us. formance out of ourselves the second day was man of the match in bought a bit of time. SM: You’re not going to get it back. against Offaly. Like Seánie said, I don’t goal. (Brian) Quinno deserved a move off JF: The legacy of ’98 — when did you AD: Your man (Loughnane) was so think there would have been any fear of us ; I’d have gladly gone back on reconcile with it? good, he had you thinking about ’99 al- in a final. Joe Dooley the third day at corner-back. LD: I was at the All-Ireland final and I ready. That was his way. You park it but LD: The second day against Offaly, we I’d no fear of marking Joe Dooley; the fel- was saying to myself that we should be out it’s later in life it gets you more that you shouldn’t have put ourselves in that posi- las I was afraid of were the ones faster than there but we got back into the club cham- should have won three. tion — we were 10 points up. me and Joe wouldn’t be faster than me. pionship. We were then back to the gym JF: We’re 20 years on and talking about AD: But we still didn’t lose it —we were Quinno wasn’t flying, he wasn’t having a sessions with Clare where we might have Clare’s last Munster title. It’s not a specific three points up. good game. He could have played at wing- been signing into the gym but going to the question but why hasn’t it happened SM: We would never have lost that back as handy or swapped with Frank swimming pool instead. 1999 was a new be- since? game. We had ridden the tide. There’s no (Lohan). ginning. LD: It’s hard to put your finger on it but way I would have ever seen us losing the LD: He had sunstroke during the week. Obviously, you still think about it but at Munster has been competitive. When game at that stage and we would have seen AD: He was sick and said nothing. We the time we had to move on. Clare won the U21 in 2009 and subsequent it out until the end. didn’t play bad the third day and I still SM: It finished very disappointingly but to that the three-in-a-row, in the last five JF: Have any of you met Jimmy Cooney think we would have won if we had got out I wasn’t harping on about it the following or six years they should have won one or over the years? of Dublin, put the mockers on Offaly a bit. January and February. There are games two with that group of players. I know AD: No. I did a thing on Newstalk with They knew on the Monday that they had a you win you should really lose and there they’re still going and their time may come Duignan about it and he said he had met replay; they shouldn’t have known that are games you lose you shouldn’t lose and this year or next year but they probably him at the Races. Duignan had until the Wednesday. This is all with the they balance out. should have won the Munster final last abused the shit out of him at the final benefit of having 20 years to think about it. I would definitely put it down as an All- year. whistle for blowing it up early but I said to LD: We probably could have even stuck Ireland we should have won but then we JF: With the U21s’ recent heavy defeat him he should have been coming from the it out an extra week. could have lost in ’95 and ’97. We wouldn’t to Limerick, is there a genuine fear in you stand to do it! What can you do about it at AD: It seemed to me the rematch was have deserved to (lose) but could’ve. You that this famine will be prolonged? this stage? I wouldn’t say anything to him. arranged 12 hours afterwards. We could just get on with it and that’s not being ig- SM: He made a genuine mistake. have gone to Lahinch for a swim, a meet- norant about it. LD: The one thing about that time was ing between ourselves. Loughnane AD: It was different for me because the Continued on p11>>> Saturday, 19.05.2018 Irish Examiner Weekend Sport

THE BIG INTERVIEW 11

Continued from p7>>>

SM: Munster is so competitive that you need a lot right to win it. It’s not beyond this team to go and win it even though people are writing them off. Their per- formances will have to improve on what’s been there the last three or four years. AD: You would be worried watching the U21s. I’d know from being with Limerick that they’ve been in the gym since 15. They’re following their programmes strictly and we’re only catching up now. If somebody told us that when the ribbons went up over Drumcondra when Pat Don- nellan lifted the cup in 2013 that we wouldn’t be back there until 2018… I think any of us would have our mortgage on that we would back soon enough. We won the U21s the following year. Maybe they kind of got that All-Ireland too soon in their own development. We’ve won four of them so we’re not going to give it back but it came quick even though the talent was coming. I was in charge and we didn’t win a Munster but we were in Croke Park five times in the three years. Quarter-finals were in Croker, which was a help, but we were in two semis. We couldn’t get any sense that now in 2018 we would still have no Munster and even no All-Ireland final appearance since. We would have all said last year that it was a learning curve for the boys (Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor) but there’s a bit of pressure this year to come out of Munster. JF: The two boys have been talking openingly about pressure. panel for the long haul. We didn’t give as LOOKING AHEAD: nell flourishing with the morega mes they or something positive, with Waterford AD: They’ve been straight up. much game-time to some new players. Liam Doyle has get if we can keep getting the ball to them. coming to the Park in the first game we JF: Will the new Munster SHC format SM: Over the last few years, I would concerns about AD: It could come down to the last game could turn over Waterford then and if you suit Clare? have always felt the longer the year went the depth of this against Limerick, 19,000 in the (Cusack) have three points after two games you’re LD: If you look at the league, I know on the better Clare would get. I think the Park. It would be some hot day. Tipp and in a good place. Win the two home games Tipp were beaten in the final but they used fact they’ve the four games… and an awful year’s Clare Cork might be okay and then it will be us and we’ve a great chance. 31 players and were looking at the bigger lot is going to depend on the Cork game panel. or Limerick. As Doyler said, the boys said LD: There’s a lot of pressure on Cork picture. We didn’t use as many players, and if they can come out of that with some- Picture: Eamon last year they were trying to get their best too. probably 10 or 12 of the championship thing it would be massive. The depth of the Ward team out for the championship. This year, SM: We’re five years waiting for a per- team were out most days. You wouldn’t squad is possibly not there but if they they came out with a more settled team formance in the Championship. Have we want to be picking up too many injuries for could avoid the injuries I can see the likes and they didn’t experiment with the goalie ever come close to the 2013 All-Ireland a small squad whereas Tipp have built a of (Conor) McGrath and (Shane) O’Don- or the full-back line. If we could get a draw final replay?

Hatchet Man

ˈhætʃ.ɪt ˌmæn PlaPlayeyeror ofdf dubiousub skills andproven menace.m

WE DEFINE THE GAMES THAT DEFINE YOUR SUMMER Weekend Sport Irish Examiner Saturday, 2.09.2017

8 THE BIG INTERVIEW

John Fogarty Teacher. Husband. Father. . Derek McGrath accepts he could be better in every role, but he tries. God, damn it, he tries. In typically candid fashion, he spoke exclusively to the Irish Examiner ahead of tomorrow’s All-Ireland final about failing to strike a balance in his life and the contradictions that both define and fuel his life and management.

“So, rumble, young musicians, rumble. Open your ears and open your hearts. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and take your- self as seriously as death itself. Don’t worry. Worry your ass off. Have ironclad confi- dence, but doubt — it keeps you awake and The price of being alert. Believe you are the baddest ass in town, and, you suck! It keeps you honest. It keeps you honest. Be able to keep two com- pletely contradictory ideas alive and well inside of your heart and head at all times. If it doesn’t drive you crazy, it will make you strong. And stay hard, stay hungry, and stay alive. And when you walk onstage on Derek McGrath tonight to bring the noise, treat it like it’s all we have.”

Bruce Springsteen, SXSW keynote address, 2012. nervous for him and nervous about what with the kids is almost always dramatic. thing.” people would say about him, so it’s been I’m saying to them, ‘Let’s go to Tramore Like Gleeson, Tom Devine will also be arah McGrath is un- simulated long before now. (But) nothing Waterford and to the amusements’. It’s not out the missing out today having left the panel likely to be in Croke prepared her for the management element manager Derek back, tapping around or going to the local following the league campaign to travel. Park tomorrow. Her of it.” park. I won’t say it’s materialistic but After his two goals against Galway in Sal- husband Derek has Together since 1994, McGrath knows he McGrath gets there’s a part of it that’s not real. There’s thill and the trouble he gave Daithí Burke pleaded with her to at- would be lost without her as much as he emotional during probably a sadness to that. back in April, he wouldn’t have been far tend but she says she appreciates he could be there more for her the All-Ireland “We obviously got away for 36 hours from Waterford supporters’ thoughts in doesn’t want to mess up and their sons, Fionn and Odhrán. Last SHC semi-final after the (Cork semi-final) game but last the build-up to tomorrow. Nor McGrath’s. a good thing. She was at month, she and the boys spent two weeks against Cork year in the run-up to other games, we “He’s won a championship in San Fran- the Munster semi-final in Santa Ponsa. McGrath joined them for a at Croke Park. would have gone to Dublin. I actually did cisco. I saw a photo of him and he’s in pris- S but only lasted until the tour of Croke Park before the semi- couple of days between training sessions tine condition as he always is. Particularly half-time. the week following the semi-final win over McGrath has final last year and we stayed in Coppers on with the fact of how well he played against “Since then, she hasn’t gone to any Cork. Nobody needs to tell him it wasn’t become friendly the Wednesday night. We just got away Galway a few months ago, he’s in my match,” says the Waterford manager. ideal. with from it. There have been sporadic mo- mind. I said previously that Tom is so inde- “She’s just stayed away and now she’s just “I’d love to create the perfect scenario and says: ‘I’d ments when we’ve got away from it but pendently minded and spirited that there at the stage where she’s kind of thinking where we would go out for a meal and love to have his they have been few and far between, albeit was never a moment when I contemplated there’s some sort of superstition attached we’re away from it but she just lets me do composure, being the support and the love is constant.” saying I wonder whether we should give to the fact that she hasn’t gone to games.” my own thing on it. This is what it is for me A man as self-aware as McGrath isn’t ig- Tom a ring and invite him back into the A ticket will have been put aside for her now. I’m obviously committed to my mar- on the line and norant of the irony of his “loco parentis” panel even having progressed from just in case she changes her mind. Given riage but in time I will be more committed just folding his remarks regarding suspended Conor Glee- quarter-final to semi-final. Tom is one of the sacrifices she has made and the de- to domestic life. That’s the sad thing but arms.’ Picture: son and how he spoke to the player’s the guys that when he leaves the panel, mands placed on her, it would be only it’s the truth. The reality is she’s brilliant, Lorraine O’Sullivan mother about his disciplinary case. Form- there would be no sense of regret. There right that she be there. From a tumultuous she’s great with the kids, and what I do er Kilkenny star seemed to would be a sense of delight for the panel. first season in charge that could have fin- take exception to McGrath’s actions when He lives in that mind where we’d all like to ished him as Waterford manager to now, he tweeted: “Why is derek Mcgrath meetin live in — no bitterness or no badness in she has taken every step. Her employers (sic) wit his players mothers. theyre (sic) him. He just did what he wanted to do. The AIB have been accommodating to her senior players. Not u6s. 1st de burca and only thing you’d think of is including him these last four years as De La Salle College Conor Gleeson”. in some capacity as regards the event him- have been to her husband. Not that he feels obliged to explain him- self because he has contributed a lot over “I’d have often said to her, ‘Look, Sarah, self to Larkin but he stands by his actions: the last three years, which shouldn’t be it’s going to get worse before it gets “Conor is 20 years of age. There was a huge forgotten.” better”. That would have been the com- emotional scenario whereby he was going mon theme. The aftermath of year one to lose out on an All-Ireland final appear- rom organising the meals would have been the worst scenario we ance and has lost out. What can be con- for journalists at the faced as a family. We’d be beaten by Wex- veyed at times is this super-human ap- press morning to suits to ford in the championship and been rel- proach as if I’m some sort of Mother Tere- nailing down the game- egated and lost a couple of selectors. Then sa character and to me, it’s just the decent plan earlier this week, we were omitting 10 guys from the panel thing to do, to talk to his mother. Invari- there are few things that but it was never a loss of faith on her be- ably, what can happen in the run-up to a McGrath hasn’t involved half. She was always ‘if you think what final is the rumour mill goes full circle as himself in for this final. you’re doing is right, then do it’. She would regards what should be done about the He could say he’s a con- have been so supportive but fearful of the case and the hearing. You were going to F trol freak but then he consequences that would come with it. In talk to them to set them straight and ex- gave permission to do a trying to brace or warn her, we would talk plain your thought processes on it. That host of publicity interviews less than a about acceptance of people’s opinions and nearly equated with her. Conor was im- fortnight before the game. It would set off saying nothing, which would be hard at mediately on board with the way we alarm bells for most managers but not times.” wanted to address it. That’s the relation- McGrath. Being ’s sister would have ship we have tried to build with all the “It doesn’t affect his training or how he given her a taste of what was to come. Only families. plays and that’s the most important thing. a taste, mind. “The one good thing about “If it was Kevin (Moran), for instance, if He’s a fine young man. The irony is the John was that there was always a feeling it was Brick Walsh, I might have just called leash that is sometimes associated with he was one of the major players for Water- their fathers. I probably would have talked our style of play is not tightened on ford so there was seldom a scenario where to Brick himself instead of talking to his players when it comes to exposure in the she had anyone giving out about his form. parents. It’s the nature of who you are run-up to games.” He was always to the forefront of what dealing with. Both Tadhg (de Búrca) and After beating Kilkenny for the first time Waterford stood for. The only time she got Conor are relatively new to disciplinary in 58 years, he encouraged his players to uptight was when there was a danger of procedures and the scrutiny and the appreciate that victory for what it will be John being involved in anything and that amount of exposure they have been given in time — historic — rather than trying to was something he really got on top of as he over the last number of weeks. You can’t belittle it ahead of their quarter-final. He went through his career. She would be really apologise for trying to do the right doesn’t want them to diminish anything Saturday, 2.09.2017 Irish Examiner Weekend Sport

THE BIG INTERVIEW 9

I’m obviously committed to my marriage “but in time I will be more committed to domestic life. That’s the sad thing but it’s the truth

tures were aligned to what they wanted. He’s just a great man. He once said the key to living, in general, is recognising the uniqueness of the individual. For us, that parallels “(To Kill A) Mockingbird”, which is what I’m always quoting from, seeing things from other people’s point of view. “You have someone like Michael Walsh who has three kids and has to leave at a certain time to get them settled. Fiona is his wife and sometimes he’s not home until 10 o’clock. Then, you have a free spirit like Jamie Barron, doing a thesis in UCC. A lot of lads are like that, in Cork IT and living the dream, if you like, in college. Mickey has been bril- liant at merging all those concepts.” Before 2003, Harte had nothing but the 1986 and ’95 All-Ireland final appearances in terms of tradition. At least Waterford have the 1948 and ’59 successes but McGrath hasn’t been inclined to lean on them. “We haven’t referenced it at all and that is in no way belittling the achiev- ements. We’re aware of our history, we’re aware of our last All-Ireland, we’re aware of the great men, the Martin Ógs (Morris- sey), the Frankie Walshs, the Philly Grimes, the Austin Flynns, the Tom Cheastys etc. We’re aware of their iconic status and are completely respectful of their achievements including John Bar- ron, my own club-mate. “We said in the run-up to the Kilkenny game we wouldn’t reference ’59 because it had been so long since we had beaten them. We might have mentioned it once but then decided it wasn’t the best course to follow. We’ve just gone down the route of preparing for the game as a single entity and that might seem very cold but that’s the way we’ve gone about it. Do things cross your mind like involving Martin Óg or Austin Flynn for a talk to the lads? Of course, they do but when you park those thoughts it’s not because you’re being dis- they should enjoy. Like the build-up to the cally how meeting the president on the red Waterford or those players who wish respectful of those men; it’s because you’re final. Only Moran and Walsh have pre- carpet will impact on the boys. How they hurling manager to attend, there’s Mass in preparing in a different way.” vious experiences of finals but McGrath’s deal with it won’t have any influence on Enfield tomorrow at 9 Anyway, if it comes to drawing from the not going to walk his players through how we play or otherwise. I think the fellas Derek McGrath and 11. As a lapsed Cath- past, McGrath knows Galway have a more everything, such as the presidential will be okay.” with his wife olic himself, McGrath potent motivation in honouring the spirit greeting. McGrath would be loathe to think that Sarah and sons wouldn’t dare impose it of the recently-departed Tony Keady, a “You get a reputation for detail and yet his players mightn’t cherish the opportun- Finn and Odhran. on them but the message man whose company he shared and en- sometimes it’s a lack of detail that works. ity in front of them. Sarah is unlikely is “it won’t do us any joyed in the hours prior to last year’s final. While the detail may come in terms of how “There’s pomp and ceremony with the harm”. He has spoken Waterford’s motivation may not be quite at we go about our business on the field, that final and it’s a different set of circum- to be in Croke F that emotional pitch, which mightn’t be before about how his mightn’t need to be the case off it. I would stances. Us against the world, that siege Park tomorrow. faith becomes more emphasised before such a bad thing when they were, to no recall, for instance, when we were in our mentality, works to a certain degree in Derek has matches. He will have said a few prayers to avail, in 2008. This has been quite the jour- first county final in ’05 against Bally- certain scenarios, but it’s a final and it has pleaded with her the Sacred Heart “never asking to win but ney for McGrath and his young group but gunner. Eddie O’Connor was training us to be enjoyed. They’re rooted in ordinari- to attend, but be the best we can be. Tell Him ‘I’ll go to he doesn’t allow himself to indulge in the and the Sunday before, we had gone ness and I think they’ve taken the example she says she Mass Sunday’, don’t go subsequently. romance of it. around in a mock parade and shook hands. from Kilkenny. The greatest thing I ever There’s an element of hypocrisy but “There’s no satisfaction looking back It was the simulation of what would be saw coming out from Kilkenny was their doesn’t want to you’re trying to do your best by everyone.” and thinking ‘it’s been great, no matter coming in our first final the following willingness to move onto the next chal- mess up a good In recent times, he’s become friendly what’. I haven’t allowed myself that. We’re week. We played really well in that final lenge and be as ordinary as you can be but thing. with Mickey Harte, a man who openly only focused on Galway and getting the but were beaten by a brilliant not a false humility, which is something Picture: speaks about the power of prayer and how best out of ourselves. Success is often point at the end. People were saying we that isn’t attractive to people. I think that Patrick Browne it can work for teams. McGrath read his judged on trophies. I could be very coldly have every aspect covered and they were comes from their parents and their teach- two autobiographies and was astounded judged on two league finals, two Munster accurate but it’s not something you can ers and themselves. by Harte’s perseverance and calmness. finals and if we lose Sunday, we’ve only follow on with just because another crowd “The advice we have given them in the “I’d love to have his composure, being on won one trophy out of five. I’d accept that have done it previously. run-up is to be themselves. So if they’re in the line and just folding his arms. I see el- is the job of people to do. Real success for “We’ll mention it but I’d like to think the a photograph with somebody down the ements of that in Micheál Donoghue as us on Sunday is arriving at the pitch of the group are able to deal with it. There’s lots town they haven’t lost the run of them- well. Mickey would have remarked to me game, the actual beat of the game, with of stories like Michael D (Higgins) or Mary selves — the reality is they’re just having a that Garvaghey was really in place before real intensity and knowing our team is the McAleese going back to their seat and say- photograph with somebody. they won an All-Ireland but once they got now and in the zone and we take whatever ing ‘I knew by talking to them that they “They’ll prepare well for the game no over the line it acted almost as a catalyst comes after that. That’s our aim.” were nervous’. I’m not sure psychologi- matter what.” for everything to take off and the struc- To treat it like it’s all they have. Tuesday Sport Irish Examiner Tuesday, 3.04.2018

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THE JOHN FOGARTY INTERVIEW In February, Tipperary selector Shane Stapleton was concussed following a seemingly innocuous collision with Clare’s Jamie Malone at in . The incident triggered a frightening chain reaction with seizures, hospitalisation, and being unable to work for almost a month. Now fully recovered, he tells his story ‘If this is what rugby players go through, I don’t know how they go back into contact’

hane Stapleton would anything about the incident at all.” brace for a couple of days and I just Easter break having been given the all- take you back there if Stapleton was eventually brought to couldn’t turn in the bed. clear by his neurologist Dr Paul Crowley. he could but he is un- Limerick’s Mid Regional Hospital’s criti- “It was difficult now looking back on it. His GP Iver Hanrahan, a fellow Golden able to do so. He has no cal decisions unit, a place he likens to “a It was tough being out of work and tough man, has been a godsend. He would have memory of the incident hotel” such was the attention and treat- being home with the girls and not being always have huge appreciation for Tipper- that left him in hospital ment he received. He would remain there able to do anything. You know yourself, ary team doctor John Hynes and physio for a couple of days and until the following Tuesday morning. But when you’re used to meeting people and Ian Dowling but as his first responders kept him out of work the recovery had only just begun. going to matches and whatever and then that day in Ennis his respect for them has for four weeks. you’re sidelined at home it’s a big change. soared. The understanding provided by All the Tipperary se- est and tests were to be People were getting so-called cabin fever Coláiste an Chraoibhín principal Christy lector can tell you about is the fright, not his routine for the after two enforced days indoors during Healy was exceptional also. how his concussion and seizures spooked next five weeks. Storm Emma but I had five weeks on lock- “He and the staff have been been very Shim but scared his wife Claire, their two Driving was ruled Clare’s Jamie down.” supportive since they had all heard it in girls and his parents. out, as was returning Malone in action He reckoned he might be allowed to at- the media. They knew about it before I had When radio and social media reported to work as a teacher tend Tipperary’s subsequent game against to get onto them. I’m never out of work so on February 11 that he had collapsed after in Fermoy’s Coláiste last month. ‘I’m Meath but that request was given short I’m looking forward to the final school the collision with Clare’s Jamie Malone, it an Chraoibhín. glad he has shrift. “I thought I would just arrive on. It term. It’s a great school, I get on well with sent shockwaves through his nearest and Though CT, MRI moved on and is didn’t have to be a selector’s capacity but the staff and students alike and you’d dearest. scans, and x-rays back playing so just to be around the dressing room. There nearly miss the banter with them. There The video of the moment makes it look a came back clear, he was under strict in- well for Clare,’ wasn’t a hope. I was still sleeping 16 to 18 would be a really good relationship with lot less serious than it was. So does Stap- structions to do as little as possible. says Shane hours a day. If this is what rugby players them, especially being involved in the foot- leton’s reaction. After being pushed by RThe grogginess eventually subsided but go through, I don’t know how they go back ball and hurling teams in there. You’d miss Malone in the second half of the February he couldn’t take any chances. “The over- Stapleton. into contact. I can’t imagine how they do the craic around the place. 11’s Division 2 game in Ennis, he was whelming problem for me was that it was Picture: Matt that.” “I also missed the first round of the in- straight back on his feet. However soon really uncomfortable. I was in a neck Browne/Sportsfile He returned to work just before the termediate club championship. I’ve played after he was down on the ground again and the previous 22 or 23 years for the club so I urgent medical attention was required. can’t wait to get back playing this month.” If ever there was a scenario of just how But if there’s a lesson he will take with deceptive concussion can be then Staplet- him it’s the experience his family endured. on’s case was a textbook example. His “I now see impact this has had on my head struck the concrete surface at the family and at the end of the day family has Ennis venue. His brother Micheál and to come first.” friends in the stand saw the danger signs before Stapleton. tapleton knows he and “They knew after I got up off the ground his family weren’t the that there was something wrong with me only victims either. His when they saw I was taking verbal abuse memory of the moment from the Clare maor foirne and another of- may not exist but he ficial because I would never accept it knows Malone never normally. They were really worried when meant to hurt him. The I went down again the second time.” pair have been in touch That worry was shared by his fellow a lot since the game. Golden-Kilfeacle clubmates Shane O’Con- “Jamie Malone has nell and Josh Keane who were playing that been a gent. I’m glad he has moved on and afternoon. Keeping their concentration on is back playing so well for Clare. We’ve matters in hand was difficult when they Sbeen texting forward and back since. At no looked to the sideline and realised Staplet- stage did anybody think it was done on on was in bad shape. He was moved to a purpose. If he caught me and brought me medical room beside the dressing rooms to the ground after the push there where he experienced another seizure as wouldn’t have been anything more about an ambulance was called for. it but, no, Jamie has been onto me, Colm “I had no history of it so it must have Collins phoned and one of the stewards been whatever way the brain reacted to from Cusack Park even came into the hos- the trauma. The doctors thought my pital. It’s been tough for all involved.” memory would come back when my brain As if the injury wasn’t bad enough, in- got back to normal and the swelling sult was added to it when Stapleton was went down but I still can’t remember subjected to criticism in Clare, blamed for Tuesday, 3.04.2018 Irish Examiner Tuesday Sport

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Malone’s two-match suspension. thing. It was just a freak result of the push Tipperary saved our blushes for the year after a poor picked up a knock after knock. We’re going “I know we got bad press in Clare but we but before people comment about any inci- selector Shane performance against Cork and then into this club month hoping that they had nothing to do with the sending off or dent they might realise that they don’t against Armagh. We could look back and come back to us in the shape they’re in the suspension. Looking back at the video, know how it can affect those involved.” Stapleton was say, ‘Well, at least we got out of the league’. now other than Shane O’Connell and Phil- no Tipp player or backroom member back patrolling We’re going to be judged on Championship ip Austin. It’s going to be a tough month. brought any attention to it. The linesman tapleton eventually re- the sidelines and if we could beat Waterford and have “Tipp are going to be the most affected was beside it and called it and it was done turned to the sideline against Cavan another good battle with Cork maybe Tipp county in the land because a lot are going and dusted. for the Cavan game and and Down after people would say that’s a good year and we to be playing four or five matches. It’ll be “I guess I was unlucky in terms of the re-fixed match suffering a can forget about the league. interesting to see what Liam Kearns and timing at the moment because maor against Down in Newry “But I don’t think people realise just Michael Ryan are saying in a month’s time foirnes seem to be more high-profile fig- on Saturday having concussion in a how difficult the league is. You’re trying to because it’s going to be tough on all parties ures recently with Dan (Shanahan) and had to make do with fol- sideline fall train really hard on a Tuesday and Thurs- involved, including the clubs themselves.” The Rock (Diarmuid O’Sullivan) the past lowing the wins over against Clare. day, trying to do a bit on the opposition Of course, two of Tipperary football’s fa- couple of years and Jayo (Sherlock) and Meath and Louth on Picture: Oliver and you’re travelling up to Down and vourite sons are abroad: Former captain (Tony) McEntee. the wireless. That vic- McVeigh/Sportsfile Cavan and it almost takes over the week. and 2016 All-Star nominee Peter Acheson “Third parties who weren’t there felt I tory over Meath prompted an unusual We have up to 13 lads in Dublin and I know working in Dubai and 2014 All-Star nomi- went looking for trouble, but if you look at reaction in him. “Maybe a side-effect of the it’s first-world problems but it’s not easy nee Colin O’Riordan plying his trade with the video I was just standing there. It’s not Sconcussion was emotions. I felt a small bit for them.” the Sydney Swans. Oh, to have them back. like the Jason Forde and Davy Fitz thing emotional when the final whistle came Football’s relationship with hurling in “Achey was our leader,” Stapleton from last year, that’s for sure. I was stand- against Meath. I remember hearing (fel- Tipperary is healthier than it was and states. “He still has huge influence on the ing three yards behind the line even be- low selector) Paul Fitzgerald on Tipp FM Stapleton believes the county’s invest- group and he knows the door is always hind Liam (Kearns) and I just wasn’t ready on the Monday night afterwards and he ment in the bigger ball game is now show- open for his return. There were even com- for the impact. I just couldn’t brace myself namechecked me and said the win would ing returns. “Liam and Michael Ryan also ments that if we got to Division 1 Achey for it.” have been nice for me. Jesus, I started wel- have a very good relationship. There’s no would have to come home. It’s all tongue- Stapleton has kept a quiet profile in ling up. That was kind of difficult. I was hurling-football divide in terms of the two in-cheek but maybe he might collect Colin Kearns’ management team so to see his more used to it by the Louth match and senior set-ups. We both know that people O’Riordan on the way back and bring a name in headlines was uneasy for him. they had played so well in the first half. It can go from one panel to the other and it couple of new hips for Ciaran McDonald “I’m a fairly private fella. I’ve been with was great to see them bounce back after a just makes sense when they’ve come up and we are sorted! Tipp for the last six or seven years in dif- really poor performance in Clare.” through a dual structure since they were “Seriously though, the lads would miss ferent capacities and I didn’t go into Tipp That Tipperary narrowly missed out on 14/15. him (Acheson) even socially because he is football for publicity. I went into learn and promotion to Division 1 was obviously a “Steven (O’Brien) and such a good character. But when himself give a tiny bit back but this was the first disappointment but hardly a crushing have been making the headlines after and (his girlfriend) Roisín are happy over time my name was out there and it was al- one. “We never spoke about going up or coming over to the football panel but there, it’s hard to wish he was back. I think most a bit embarrassing. aimed to go up. It makes no difference to you’ve Bill Maher, Liam McGrath, Emmet at some stage they will be home but maybe “People were coming into the house our plans. We had intended to win all our Moloney and Josh Keane were dual Tipp football mightn’t be at that stage able showing paper clippings and showing me home matches and that was the only goal players up all along. Then it goes the other to take advantage of it because the timing that this fella said this and that online. we spoke about. We knew we had a good way. We’d love to have Paudie Feehan, mightn’t be right. Once the pair of them “I used to train the Fermoy footballers away record. Cavan had been only our sec- Paul Shanahan, Willie Connors, Paul are happy over there, the lads are content and the Kildorrery hurlers and I know a ond away defeat in three years so we knew Maher etc but you can only play 15. and we all wish them well in their adven- few of the lads from Mary I and they’d we’d pick points up away from home but “We’ve had a good pre-season. We were ture.” would be talking about nice a fella Jamie we didn’t know where. reasonably happy at this stage last year You might even say it’s been that for Malone is. I was hoping he knew nobody in “The lads have trained well, we won and then April went totally backwards for Stapleton this past while but he’s certainly Tipp was blaming him or it was a personal Division 3 last year and that really only us because we couldn’t get lads fit and we glad that his is over.