Denn's Kiernan to captain Irish Masters
Paul Fitzpatrick
This Saturday will mark a special occasion for the Denn club and one member in particular when their long-serving footballer Jerome Kiernan captains the Irish Masters (Over 40s) team in the International Rules Test against Australia.
The match will throw in at 3pm in St Matthew's Park in Crosskeys, with the winners taking home the Paddy Gaffney Cup, named after the late and legendary former Denn and Cavan Masters full-back.
Kiernan, who is joined on the Cavan panel by former county star Micky Brennan (below), admitted he was hugely honoured but very surprised to be awarded the captaincy.
“I definitely wasn't expecting it. I was on this panel three years ago and I was surprised then and then I was delighted to be called up again along with Micky Brennan but I wasn't expecting to be made captain,” he told The Anglo-Celt.
“I played with Paddy, he was a friend and team-mate so it's a special thing to be captaining a team playing for his cup on our home pitch. It might not ever happen again.
“I thought the highlight of my football career was three years ago to play for the Paddy Gaffney Cup but to captain a team to play for it, that has topped it.”
The Cavan panel consists of 32 players from 16 counties and includes well-known former inter-county players such as Tyrone's Eoin Gormley and Westmeath's Martin Flanagan. An innovation this time round will see half of the match played with the Australians' oval ball.
“We have had two very god training sessions on the last two Saturdays and the lads are starting to get used to the hop of the ball,” said Kiernan, who detailed the different tactical approach in the 'compromise' rules game.
“The mark is very important and, especially with the ovall ball, it's about moving up the field, making small steps forward, making marks and moving it on and then trying to find a big man inside. It's like a chess game, you take it move by move.
“Boys are definitely getting the hang of it and getting more confident on the ball.”
For the Denn club, it will be a proud occasion.
“We have a new field and new facilities since we last hosted this fixture so it will be great to showcase that. I'm hoping there will be a good crowd, the forecast is for good weather and I know the club will pull out all the stops to have the place looking well and to look after everyone who attends.”
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Gaelic Masters Association has revealed that the group will explore the possibility of bringing a squad Down Under next year.
John Pat Sheridan, a native of Burrishoole, Co Mayo, stated that the Over 40s grade, which had been banished to a renegade existence of sorts, has now been recognised by Croke Park.
“The International Rules series is organised by the Gaelic Masters Association as is our own competition. By the same token, we have come to an agreement with the GAA whereby we can use all GAA facilities throughout Ireland and we look forward to working with the GAA going forward as we try to promote Masters football,” Sheridan told The Anglo-Celt.
“Lads who are involved in Masters football are the backbone of their clubs, they're into coaching, refereeing, management within the GAA.
And from a health and wellbeing point of view, you can see great benefits of playing Masters football and being fit and healthy.
“Originally three years ago we had two tests, one in Clonbeirne in Galway and the second in Denn. We played for the Paddy Gaffney Cup, Paddy travelled to Australia many years ago with an Irish team and in honour of him, we will be hosting the game in his home club.
“The Australians are on a tour, they are playing in France and England so there is only the one Test here this time.
“We felt that Ireland had an advantage the last time with the round ball and we will try to level the playing field this time by playing two quarters with the oval ball.
“We have been recognised by the AFL as the main parties in Ireland for Masters football and we have got an invite from them to travel down there. When this tour is over, maybe we will sit down and see can we organise that.
“The last time round we were concentrating on building Masters football in Ireland and that the commitment would be too big to take on.”
The Masters game is growing strongly, he said.
“At the minute we have 16 counties, we have a lot in Ulster, all of Connacht, Clare in Munster and then the likes of Laois and Dublin, who are the reigning All-Ireland champions.
“We are looking to build year on year and hopefully get more counties on board but the main thing is to have a good structure in a county and that the lads who are playing enjoy it, that's what it's all about.”
The match on Saturday will be preceded by an U11 game between the host club and Crosserlough. The Irish squad is managed by Lacken clubman Jimmy Galligan.