At 27 years of age, Pa Kearney leads Modeligo into their first ever Munster final. Another exciting challenge for both club and coach.
The switch to management mode was a straightforward decision for the former Waterford hurler after a car accident in 2009 cut short his playing days. “When you miss the game and you can’t play it anymore, it’s the next best thing.”
Opportunities arose quickly for the Ballyduff Upper man. He linked up with the Waterford minor hurlers in 2012 as selector and also assisted his local club in both hurling and football. He answered Modeligo’s call this season. “I had a tremendous experience with the minors a few years ago and a bit of coaching with my club alongside Maurice Geary which was a great experience for me also. Places like Modeligo show you the real value of a small club. Everyone getting on with you down there and taking you in can really help you throughout the year.”
Kearney crossed the bridge immediately and left a promising playing career behind. He represented the county at minor, under 21 and senior grades. In 2007, he helped restore the Reds to number one. The corner forward netted a first half goal in the county final against Ballygunner. A senior call-up followed from Justin McCarthy a year later and he was a member of Davy Fitzgerald’s squad that reached the 2008 All Ireland final.
His love of the game remains untainted. Modeligo’s march on Munster has provided plenty of thrills. “Nothing beats being right in the thick of it, whether it be a player or a sub or part of the backroom team. Everyone gets sucked into it, whether it be a first round game or a county final. Hurling is a great game and it’s a big part of my life. You would get sucked in. For me alone and Modeligo, the feeling after the last few victories has just been unbelievable.”
Kearney agreed that the Munster semi final against Feohanagh-Castlemahon posed their toughest test of 2014. After a free flowing first half, they trailed by 1-11 to 0-10. “It was the first time we were behind all year to be honest about it. Anyone who was at it could see it was a fine hurling game. It was tit for tat. It was just the unfortunate goal that we left in before half time that gave them the edge. Looking back at the first half as a whole, we were every bit as good as them so we knew we would get chances. Thankfully we got them early in the second half, which was vital.”
They looted 2-7 on the resumption but Kearney diverted attention to the backs for strangling the life out of the home attack and limiting them to just two scores. “We got the 1-2 early enough and went ahead. We managed to tack on a few scores and keep them at bay at the back. Our half back line and full back line stood strong at that time and they didn’t end up scoring until the last minute of the second half which was exceptional out of our set of backs. That doesn’t happen every day but we have to give them credit for that day alone anyway!”
The five week gap between the lop-sided county final versus Bonmahon (2-25 to 0-8) and provincial semi final proved a bit troublesome beforehand. “Against Bonmahon we got the upper hand. When we got a lead, we kept it so it wasn’t a full blooded sixty minute match. Looking into a five week break, it was a long time to keep people going especially with the change of weather, people in colleges and it’s very hard to get challenge games. We were lucky enough that we got two challenge games. It was only the second time that Modeligo were playing in the Munster championship so there was a hunger to get a win.”
Modeligo started the season from a position of strength. They nearly derailed the Ballysaggart train last year. The blue and navy needed a replay before defeating the green and white at the semi final stage of the Western championship. Kearney made subtle alterations to their playing style. “They had a pretty good year last year. They were slow starting but they ended it very well and were a bit unfortunate. Coming in, it was just to bring a new voice, somebody young to work with them I suppose and get them to buy into it. Along with the selectors, we agreed that we might try and impose a type of game. It’s gone well so far. They were good hurlers already, it was just some fine tuning.”The switch to management mode was a straightforward decision for the former Waterford hurler after a car accident in 2009 cut short his playing days. “When you miss the game and you can’t play it anymore, it’s the next best thing.”
Opportunities arose quickly for the Ballyduff Upper man. He linked up with the Waterford minor hurlers in 2012 as selector and also assisted his local club in both hurling and football. He answered Modeligo’s call this season. “I had a tremendous experience with the minors a few years ago and a bit of coaching with my club alongside Maurice Geary which was a great experience for me also. Places like Modeligo show you the real value of a small club. Everyone getting on with you down there and taking you in can really help you throughout the year.”
Kearney crossed the bridge immediately and left a promising playing career behind. He represented the county at minor, under 21 and senior grades. In 2007, he helped restore the Reds to number one. The corner forward netted a first half goal in the county final against Ballygunner. A senior call-up followed from Justin McCarthy a year later and he was a member of Davy Fitzgerald’s squad that reached the 2008 All Ireland final.
His love of the game remains untainted. Modeligo’s march on Munster has provided plenty of thrills. “Nothing beats being right in the thick of it, whether it be a player or a sub or part of the backroom team. Everyone gets sucked into it, whether it be a first round game or a county final. Hurling is a great game and it’s a big part of my life. You would get sucked in. For me alone and Modeligo, the feeling after the last few victories has just been unbelievable.”
Kearney agreed that the Munster semi final against Feohanagh-Castlemahon posed their toughest test of 2014. After a free flowing first half, they trailed by 1-11 to 0-10. “It was the first time we were behind all year to be honest about it. Anyone who was at it could see it was a fine hurling game. It was tit for tat. It was just the unfortunate goal that we left in before half time that gave them the edge. Looking back at the first half as a whole, we were every bit as good as them so we knew we would get chances. Thankfully we got them early in the second half, which was vital.”
They looted 2-7 on the resumption but Kearney diverted attention to the backs for strangling the life out of the home attack and limiting them to just two scores. “We got the 1-2 early enough and went ahead. We managed to tack on a few scores and keep them at bay at the back. Our half back line and full back line stood strong at that time and they didn’t end up scoring until the last minute of the second half which was exceptional out of our set of backs. That doesn’t happen every day but we have to give them credit for that day alone anyway!”
The five week gap between the lop-sided county final versus Bonmahon (2-25 to 0-8) and provincial semi final proved a bit troublesome beforehand. “Against Bonmahon we got the upper hand. When we got a lead, we kept it so it wasn’t a full blooded sixty minute match. Looking into a five week break, it was a long time to keep people going especially with the change of weather, people in colleges and it’s very hard to get challenge games. We were lucky enough that we got two challenge games. It was only the second time that Modeligo were playing in the Munster championship so there was a hunger to get a win.”
Final opponents Castlemartyr wriggled out of the Cork junior championship for the first time in 50 years. In the county final, they outscored Ballinhassig by thirteen points to nil in a remarkable second half turnaround. Modeligo acknowledge the potency of inter county pair Brian and Barry Lawton who compiled eleven points out of 1-16 in the recent win over Kenmare. “One is a Cork senior hurler and one is a Cork intermediate hurler and they have been playing with Imokilly who are a Cork senior team also. They are definitely of a high standard. At this stage, everyone knows what to expect to a certain degree out of every team. We will have an idea and they certainly will have an idea. It’s just about who clicks and what team it goes right for on the day and hopefully it will be us.”
Totally immersed in Modeligo and ready to greet Munster final day. Kearney is right where he wants to be. Back in the thick of the action.
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