TRIPS INTO THE unknown are fraught with uncertainty but Dr Crokes have had help to sooth their nerves ahead of next Sunday’s AIB All-Ireland quarter-final.
Generally clubs have scant knowledge of cross-channel teams yet recently crowned Munster SFC champions Dr Crokes are grateful in this respect to have the inside track on their opponents Tír Chonaill Gaels.
This season Dr Crokes have welcomed back into their fold defensive duo Mike Moloney and Shane Doolan. The pair, who were part of the Dr Crokes side who won the 2010 Kerry title, missed out on last year’s campaign as they had moved to London in search of employment.
They switched their Gaelic football allegiances in 2011 to Kerry Kingdom Gaels in the English capital and also joined the London county side. When they claimed a famous All-Ireland qualifier win over Fermanagh last year, Moloney was at full-back and Doolan played at wing-back.
Amongst their London team-mates on that occasion were Mark Gottsche and Eoin O’Neill, who are key components of Tír Chonaill Gaels team, while Kevin Downes, a member of the London management setup last year, is the Tír Chonaill Gaels coach.
Star attacker Colm Cooper admits that imparting that knowledge has helped Dr Crokes preparations.
“They certainly have an insight into it. That helps because when you’re over here it’s very hard to get any DVD or video work of a team in London. They probably know a lot more about us than we do about them and that’s a big advantage for them.
“But having the two lads that have been there last year gives us an idea and a run down of what they’re about and strong areas that they have as well so that definitely helps.”
The return of Moloney and Doolan has been of immense benefit in increasing the depth of Dr Crokes squad.
“The economics of it is there was no work around at the time,” says Cooper. “They were lucky enough to pick up something which brought them both back home. They probably missed home a little bit too, playing with the club, family and things like that.
“We always felt that we had a good team but we didn’t have strength in depth in areas that we would have liked. They definitely have provided that, even through the Kerry championship.
“We’ve missed guys in certain games but fellas have come in and done a job. Maybe 12 months or 24 months ago we wouldn’t have had that.”
Mike Moloney (left) in action for Dr Crokes. Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
Dr Crokes have previous experience of trips to London when they defeated St Brendan’s in 2006 by 2-12 to 0-5 in a game where Cooper bagged 2-6. Their team has evolved since then with six of the players who started in their provincial triumph against Castlehaven a fortnight ago, not having played in that tie in Ruislip six years ago.
In addition Eoin Brosnan is ruled out with a calf injury next Sunday and as they get set for their 11th match in 12 weeks, Cooper resists the temptation to subscribe to the school of thought that they are guaranteed to join other heavyweights in next February’s All-Ireland club semi-finals.
“If you’re successful it’s fairly relentless. If you could just win the next day it would cap off a very good year for the club. You’ve ticked all the boxes that you’ve set out to do at the start of the year and you can, I won’t say relax and enjoy Christmas, but you can sit back a small bit and recharge the batteries.
“It’d be great just to give the mind and the whole lot a rest. But we’ve taken it game by game and I definitely wouldn’t be looking past Sunday because that would be very foolish and unprofessional.
“People are saying we’ll handle it and we’ll play Ballymun after Christmas and that will be the real test. But I wouldn’t subscribe to that at all. I’ve been at enough matches to know that is silly talk, especially at this time of year.”
Cooper has also praised the input of former Kerry and new Mayo football coach Donie Buckley to Dr Crokes this season as he has had a vital role in shaping Dr Crokes training regime.
“He came in before the county final just to help out the lads. Drills and training wouldn’t have been top of the management’s list of experience and they’d be open about that. So Donie came in to give them a few ideas and the lads responded to that very quickly.
“Few guys would have Donie’s quality in terms of that type of training. He goes to America for a couple of months each year. He’s a keen golfer and I wouldn’t take him on for a fiver anyway.
“He spends time over there and looks at other training techniques and coaching techniques from US sports and works with some trainers. So he picks up that while he’s away but we haven’t seen him now in a while. Who knows, maybe if we get past Sunday we might see him again we’ll see.”
