Tully has seen it all but hunger remains as strong as ever
Paul Fitzpatrick
When Barry Tully was growing up in Kingscourt, he didn’t get to see the Stars claiming the Oliver Plunkett Cup – the club didn’t win from 1994 to 2009 inclusive, with just one final appearance in that time.
Now 36, Tully is preparing for his 10th senior county final as a player (including replays). The Kingscourt captain has been there through the glory days and the disappointments and the appetite remains undiminished.
“It's great, honestly. It's why we do it.
It's why you come down training in January, it's what we're doing it for,” the wing-back said.
“I wasn't even at the '99 final myself. I wouldn't have seen them in a final. It was barren enough years. They weren't competing at the highest level when I was growing up.
“It was just, I suppose, mediocre, for lack of a better word. We aspired, obviously, to get up and play and make things better. Thankfully, that's what happened.”
Tully was among the youngsters who helped transform the club's fortunes back in 2010, although he admits the significance of that breakthrough was largely lost on him at the time.
“It's a bit of a blur because you come in, you didn't really know what it meant. You just kind of get caught up in it. We weren't expected to do much. So we just got on with it. We enjoyed it. And we got over the line, thankfully, in the end.
“It was kind of lost on me at the time but it was massive for the town, massive for the people, for the club.”
Tully has rarely let the side down in the intervening years. Has he ever considered taking a step back?
“I suppose the last few years, most Tuesdays and Fridays when training's coming up!” he laughed.
“No, not really. Look, I'm 36 now. I wouldn't be still doing it if I was sick of it. I enjoy it. Thankfully, I'm relatively injury-free, so it makes that bit easier.
“And again, when you're winning and you're competing, it makes it that bit easier again.”
One of the reasons Kingscourt remain competitive is the emergence of another crop of talented youngsters whom Tully insists they need little guidance from the veterans.
“They had that winning mentality from that minor team (2024 county champions). They came in, I don't know if you'd say used to winning, but they had the feel for winning.”
As for the suggestion that Kingscourt, in splendid isolation geographically, do not always receive the recognition their achievements merit, Tully is happy to let others do the talking.
“We want to win regardless of what's said about us. It's better for us if we're forgotten about, if we're not being talked about. Coming under the radar suits us better. Favourites doesn't usually suit us.”
He has enormous respect for Gowna, describing them as a side with strength in every position. Experience has taught him not to get side-tracked in a final. His message to younger teammates will be simple.
“Just not getting lost in the day, getting lost in the crowd, just letting the day get to you. At the end of the day, it's another 60 minutes of football.
“Don't worry about the outside noise, don't worry about the crowd, whatever's going on around you, none of that stuff matters.
“If we don't put in the 60 minutes that we're capable of, it's all been a waste of time.”