Mannion confident that Easkey can cause upset

AIB All-Ireland Club JHC Final

Saturday, January 10 

Easkey v Kilbrittain (Cork) 

3.15pm in Croke Park 

REF: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford) 

There will be two clubs from the West hoping for a reversal of fortunes in Croke Park this Saturday. But before Tooreen look to reach the All-Ireland summit, Easkey have their own mountain to conquer.

Once again, Cork opposition stand in the way, this time in the shape of Kilbrittain. It was Ballygiblin who defeated the Sligo and Connacht junior champions three years ago, but it won’t be just the players who are looking to exorcise the Croker demons. Manager Padráig Mannion was part of the Mayo senior hurlers backroom team the past two seasons which saw Nicky Rackard Cup final defeats to Donegal and Roscommon respectively, but he still eagerly anticipates a chance at a national title.

“You have to be looking forward to it. If you're not looking forward to it, you shouldn't be here. But you'd be nervous enough, like, you know, Kilbrittain are a good side, but so are we, so hopefully it'll go well.” 

It hasn’t been smooth sailing by any means. Easkey pipped Ballinasloe in the Connacht final while they needed extra-time to see of Burt (Donegal) in the All-Ireland semi-final. Key forward Andrew Kilcullen was subdued by not one, but two markers in the provincial final while Rory McHugh was man-marked in the latter. Kilcullen would strike 4-10 in an incredible semi-final performance and Mannion knows they will be in with a serious chance if both men find form. 

“The two of them are serious hurlers and if they’re on form on Saturday, we'd be there or thereabouts.” 

Many of this Easkey side are no strangers to Croke Park, whether it is club or county duty. While Mikey Gordon, Gavin Connolly and Joe McHugh have moved on, thirteen of the starters from their win over Burt started the All-Ireland final three years ago, while defender James Weir captained Sligo to the 2019 Nicky Rackard Cup. And of course the dual club also contested the All-Ireland Club JFC final in 2019.

New players have been introduced but despite needing time to bed them in, Mannion is not surprised that Easkey have lost no momentum in the process.

“They're a serious team, they're a serious club. They're lucky enough that they have a bunch of players around the same age that came together as good quality hurlers. There's 22, 23 lads training every night. We as a management wouldn't be one bit afraid of starting any one of those in our 15.” 

Mannion feels preparation has gone very smoothly, especially with lights installed at Easkey’s club grounds, meaning the club don’t have to hunt for venues to train on.

“Last year we were travelling to Longford or wherever we could get lights to kind of split the difference for the likes of those travelling from Dublin. There are three lads travelling from Dublin, Rory [McHugh], Donall Hanley, Cormac Vereker. And then you have Patrick Walsh and Tommy Cawley travelling from Limerick and the rest of the lads are fairly local.

“You have 25, 30 percent of your panel travelling, but then you had 75 percent travelling from Easkey to Longford which is a fair trek.

“Having lights here, it's brilliant for training. Everyone, Rory and the boys come from Dublin and Tommy and Patrick come from Limerick. They're seriously committed lads. They'll come up once a week.” 

No stone will be left unturned as Easkey look for a way to defeat the Cork and Munster champions. Mannion watched Kilbrittain’s county final win over Glen Rovers before they came through a tough battle in their Munster semi-final against Knocknaderry of Limerick. They became the first West Cork club to win the Munster junior hurling title after beating Kilrossanty from Waterford and their battling qualities were on show again when they edged Davidstown/Courtnacuddy in the All-Ireland semi-final.

“I think their best game was against the Limerick champions,” offered Mannion. “[Knocknaderry] went down to thirteen men at the end of the game, but they played the last fifteen minutes with fourteen men and only lost by six points. So, if we can try and replicate what they were doing to Kilbrittain, we'll give them a good rattle.” 

Mannion was not in the dugout when Easkey last reached this occasion, but could Easkey’s familiarity with Croke Park be an advantage?

“It's hard to compare the two of them. You're playing a completely different team from Cork and Cork Junior Championship is a serious level. Plus Easkey are probably missing four or five of that team that played that time, but we’ve four or five good young lads coming in.” 

So, for third time to be the charm for Mannion, and for Easkey to reach the summit, the one thing that needs to happen is the same thing that is needed to happen in every match: enough players to perform on the day.

“You'd want twelve or thirteen of your hurlers playing at the top of their game. You’re always going to have one or two lads that doesn't just go for them. Occasion might get to them, simple things like that, but you'd want twelve or thirteen lads playing well all the time.”