This article is from page 82 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 82 JPG
WE find Lissycasey poised and primed, ready for battle, prepared to defend their title. They’ve heard the word going around the county, that they’ve had a poor league, that they’re going to struggle to keep Jack Daly in the paish.
The former, they know themselves. They don’t need telling on that front. The latter? Well, they’ve plenty to say about that but they’ll keep their powder dry and allow their football do the talking between the white Thee
We find last year’s captain renewed and refreshed on the eve of the cham- pionship. James Kelly says that plen- ty has changed in Lissycasey over the past eight months. A first champion- ship tends to do such things.
There’s more enthusiasm at the club, he says. More motivation among the players, particularly the younger members of the senior panel.
“On top of that,” he adds, “there’s
a great buzz among the underage teams.” You want knock-on effects from a championship win and there they are. Foundations being built for the future, seeds being sown. For a small parish with a growing popu- lation — particularly among young families — the story of 2007 may have great consequences.
But for now, that tale is put to bed. Last year is done with. It’s time for a new page.
‘This year 1s all that matters now,” says Kelly. “Even though the seniors aren’t playing well, the champion- ship is a different story. That’s what it’s all about. We didn’t go well in the league but got to the final of the O’Gorman Cup and didn’t play well in that game either. Right now we’re preparing to get off the ground in the championship.”
From the very start of the year, Kelly felt the opposition treated Lis- sycasey differently. Carrying the tag of champions, teams were more fo- CLUSTor6 Me-Nee- UOT] MNOS OO PMRAOLoATABE-DESCoLO Mm NO COEN
game. It comes with the territory though, it’s the sideshow that win- ning the league and championship brings.
“This year, instead of playing 100%, we’ll have to play 120% be- cause teams will be trying even harder against us this year. Every team will be out to beat us as we’re up there as county champions and it’s something you’d even notice during the league.”
Speaking of which, things have changed slightly since then. James Murrihy came in as trainer at the be- ginning of the season and has since been replaced. Has that had an effect on championship preparation?
“Not really,” says Kelly, “because it’s still basically the same training. James 1s preparing for the Olympics at the moment [he plays for the Irish soccer team] and he couldn’t stay on with us. But from our point of view, it’s still basically the same train- ing and there’s a good atmosphere there.”
Other changes have come about as well. Martin Daly, man of the match in the final last October, has come on board as part of the management and Michael Slowey, an influential addi- tion to the club for last year’s cam- paign, has departed.
Two big names missing from the forwards, but Kelly reckons Lissyca- sey have the talent to push on.
‘“There’s a lot of young lads there this year from 17 and 18 years of age upwards. I’m talking about the likes of Francis Hayes who was coming along last year — he’ll be just one trying to cement a position for them- selves. A lot of the up and coming players are actually forwards. Fair enough, we’re missing the two boys but there’s plenty of competition.
‘In general, there’s good competi- tion for places and that’s positive because it should push fellas on. The young lads coming in will drive on the older lads to try and hold their place and we’ll have to all fight to keep our place on the team. Things seem to be coming together right now so hopefully once the champi- onship comes around, we’ll all be ready for road.
“We’ll be in there with a shout.”