Fionn Fitzgerald: 'The younger and the middle part of the group have completely taken over this team'
STEERING THE SHIP: Micheál Burns of Dr Crokes, 10, celebrates after his side's victory. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
There were 20 minutes on the clock at Mallow when Micheál Burns made for the Crokes sideline during a break in fare. There followed a brief, albeit animated conversation between the half-forward and Pat O’Shea. Burns clearly wanted to make known to his manager some element of play that Crokes needed to immediately correct.
Burns is 27 years old. There are teammates, both starting and rolling off the bench, with several years on him, both for age and experience.
Age and experience, though, do not dictate the leadership positions of this Crokes side. In the six years since the Lewis Road club last conquered Munster and spent the Christmas preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final, the baton has changed hands and changed groups.
34-year-old Fionn Fitzgerald, a veteran of eight Munster Club campaigns, takes it as a sign of the team’s good health that the players in their mid-to-late 20s have, without ask, stepped forward and stepped up into those key leadership roles.
“The most enjoyable part for me is the way the younger and the middle part of the group have completely taken over this team,” said Fitzgerald after pocketing provincial medal No.6.
“You've seen a lot of central players just giving us a huge lease of life over the last 12 months. It is great for the likes of myself and some of the older fellas to see them take over the team, really, and be hungry and want to create their own little bit of whatever it is.”
That ownership and from-the-front direction came in various different guises during the defining third quarter of Sunday’s Munster final win over Loughmore-Castleiney.
There was Gavin White’s defence-unlocking runs, Mark O’Shea’s domination of the Loughmore restart, Micheál Burns drawing frees, and Tony Brosnan drawing white flags.
“There is a huge hunger from the middle group and younger group. They were probably sitting back watching over the years, but now they are really taking central roles. Their leadership of the team has been exceptional,” Fitzgerald continued.
“It is probably what we have been missing over the last couple of years because they have now given us that new impetus.”
The last couple of years, as hardly needs further rehashing at this point, were very un-Crokes like. A hefty 2022 Kerry quarter-final defeat to Dingle. An inability to emerge from a four-team group last year.
Fitzgerald, a lecturer in Exercise Science at MTU Kerry, always believed the talent was there to take Crokes back to stages and scenes such as Sunday in Mallow, but that belief was challenged repeatedly by the poor results outlined above.
“I always thought, genuinely, that we had the ability to be here over the last couple of years, I never doubted that for a second. But the more the years go on and you are not getting there, it probably irritates you a little bit alright when you feel you might have the ability to be around there. Kerry, to get out of, is very difficult, so when you get out of there, you have got to try and make the most of it.”
Defensive colleague Gavin White chimed in with another factor in their restorative year: The return of Pat O’Shea.
“Pat is a winner. He's a Crokes man through and through. He does everything for the club. He's given us confidence this year and a few bits and pieces,” said the Crokes centre-back.
White, too, touched on the younger brigade and the influence exerted not tallying with their inexperienced status.
“Over the last couple of years when some of the senior players were missing, some of the younger group had to step up to the mark and that really showed this year, especially when we had the full group together. In fairness to Pat, he has put a serious team together over the last 11 months and thankfully we've been able to repay him with silverware.”
There’s opportunity for further repayment. One six-year gap was bridged on Sunday. On the first Sunday of January, they’ll attempt to bridge a six-year gap to the club’s most recent All-Ireland final appearance, what ended up being a comprehensive thumping by Corofin. Minding the gap are the Canavan brothers and Errigal Ciarán.
“Winning a Munster Championship going into Christmas, it always makes it a special time of year. As a club, you want to be involved in the biggest games of the year. We'll enjoy this win and we'll maybe enjoy a small bit of the Christmas, but we're delighted to be in an All-Ireland semi-final and it's something we'll look forward to.”
