IT’S been quite some time since Cork football benefited from two players transferring their club allegiances to Leeside and helping Billy Morgan’s squad to two All-Irelands.
The affection Cork football fans still have for Shea Fahy and Larry Tompkins speaks volumes for their impact in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Whether Antrim native James Loughrey can have the same impact remains to be seen, but his decision to move to Mallow for work could yet be a factor in the Rebels’ championship challenge.

Conor Counihan and his selectors are far from the only beneficiaries of Loughrey’s decision, with Mallow and Avondhu also seeing their potential for success going in the right direction.
Last Thursday night the divisional side got a good idea of the talent they inherited as the former St Brigid’s man played an inspirational role in the north Cork side’s victory over Muskerry.
“It is great to get to play with a side like this,” he agreed. “There are some terrific footballers here and it was very important for us to win this game after the disappointment of last week’s loss to Duhallow.
“I thought we played very well but we only went in up three points at half-time after having the wind on our backs. We knew they would come back at us but in fairness to the lads we were able to get through and stay in this competition.”
While Loughrey is only getting to know his own team-mates he found a strange familiarity with his opponents as he looked to the other huddle in Mourneabbey — David and Fintan Goold, Liam Shorten and Daniel Goulding among their starters.
“To be fair I looked at their team sheet and I recognised more people on their side than on my own. The Muskerry side was so strong that they had five or six Cork players in their starting 15 and having been called up by Conor (Counihan) I have met those guys in training over the past few weeks.”
Loughrey’s call-up by the Cork boss is still something that the new Rebel can’t believe, but his delight at joining the ranks is obvious for all to see.
“I was really humbled when I got the call.
“There are people that have grown up in Cork that would give anything to wear that jersey, and I feel really honoured to be given the opportunity to play with such a successful and talented side.
“I’m still in a spin at the moment, I’m still only getting settled in Mallow and at work so getting called into the county side is still a bit of a shock, but a really good shock at that.”
Whether the dynamic wing-back wins trophies in the next few
years with Mallow or Avondhu is debatable, but there is less doubt
that the latest addition to the Cork senior football panel has the talent to be a success in the blood and bandage.

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THOUGH the result sent Cork towards a dogfight with Clare to retain their Division 1A status, there were genuine positives in the battling display in Kilkenny, and encouraging signs from the league in general.
The one caveat is that there’s been little between the old rivals in the regular league meetings since the nadir of the post-strike annihilation in 2009.
Cork narrowly won at home in 2010 and ‘12, Kilkenny the same in 2011 and on Sunday. Yet when trophies have been on the line in those same seasons (2010 All-Ireland semi/2012 league decider), there has been only one winner.
In a column yesterday former Clare boss Ger Loughnane went as far as to call the two-point loss to the Cats as Cork’s best performance since Jimmy Barry-Murphy returned. That’s probably exaggerating, as Loughnane is prone to doing, but you could understand where he was coming from.
The Rebels were physical and aggressive, and the work-rate from the front back, with corner-forward Stephen Moylan often sweeping back to midfield saw them turn over the ball repeatedly.
It was the first time since the opener against Tipp that Cork hurled with a championship fury.
Cork won the puck-out battle 34 to 21, granting them precious primary possession, with the half-back line lording it aerially, and the half-forwards breaking their share of long deliveries.
Against Kilkenny, more than any other team, that was encouraging.
As was the creation of five goal chances (three from Luke O’Farrell, which yielded 1-1), which was more than the home side.
It’s just a pity Cork couldn’t move the ball more clinically from the middle third, too often getting intercepted when attempting dinky short passes.
Lorcán McLoughlin, Conor O’Sullivan and Chris Joyce were the stars in a solid defence, while Conor Lehane and O’Farrell were major threats up top.
Lehane hit three wides, but a return of 1-3 brings him up to 1-10 from five games (two of which he was sub) and makes his the Rebels’ top scorer from play for the second year running. Perhaps more tellingly for summer, the U21 hasn’t been as overexposed as he was last spring in his debut campaign.
O’Farrell was beaten a few times when high ball was sent into the square, but considering JJ Delaney was shadowing him, he excelled. As well as his two scores from play he was fouled for a free, set up a Moylan point and forced the keeper into a save.
The team is really taking shape now, with only a handful of talking points. Where to play Lorcán is one, because while he shone at wing-back in Nowlan Park, he’s been a scoring threat from midfield, and more consistent there than Daniel Kearney and Pa Cronin.
Kearney continues to show promise, but Cork really need Cronin — he was managed just one point so far — to rediscover his 2012 form.
If that happens they might be able to retain Lorcán at five, with Joyce, Stephen White and William Egan contesting the other two half-back slots.
Joyce was composed at centre-back and even if he’s not the finished article yet, has the makings of a quality six. Quite why the management tinkered with the position after the Tipp win is a mystery, and it didn’t do Cronin’s confidence any good to be struggling out of position against Clare and Waterford.
I wonder would Cork have got more from those two games if Cronin was midfield or half-forward and Joyce at centre-back?
While there’s always a danger in reading too much into the hurling league, it has generally been a reasonable pre-summer guide in the modern era.
One very clear pattern in the modern era has been Kilkenny’s dominance since 2002 to the tune of six league titles, five as part of doubles with the All-Ireland. Though it must be acknowledged the Cats are a breed apart under Brian Cody.
Other markers have been set at this juncture of the year: Tipp’s resurgence was marked with a spring trophy in ‘08, as Cork’s had been 10 years earlier under Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
Dublin followed up the 2011 success with an All-Ireland semi-final appearance.
And when Waterford defeated Kilkenny in the ‘07 decider it was a precursor to the championship in which they most looked like lifting Liam McCarthy — until they were caught by Limerick in the All-Ireland semi.
But what about Galway you might ask, league champions who flopped come summer in both 2004 and 2008? Wild inconsistency has been the Tribe’s chief characteristic for so long that they’re the exception to the rule.
So if league performances matter, is a disaster that Cork are now on the brink of the drop? Not necessarily.
The league format this year is ridiculous, with its competitiveness masking the unfairness of a structure which features too few teams and matches, with too harsh a penalty — a league relegation final — for a Cork team that only lost two matches.
JBM’s charges will benefit from what will be an intense showdown with a Banner side who beat them three weeks ago, and they could meet again in the Munster semi. Galway rebounded from scraping past Dublin at the same stage last year to almost lift the All-Ireland.
Certainly though, Cork could do without the blow to their confidence from losing to Clare. And a spring in the purgatory of Division 1B…

The post Biggest debate is where to play Cronin and Lorcán appeared first on Evening Echo.

The Rebels had that bit more drive and intensity midway through the second half when the game was there to be won, and their efforts generated a suitable response from the large crowd, which fuelled them further.

Had Cork lost over the weekend though – on the back of league and championship defeats in 2012 – they would certainly have been harbouring doubts when the sides next meet. They laid down a marker in a tie they would have targeted when the league fixtures were made. Sometimes that’s enough at this time of year.

Having said that, there’s no doubt that the management and their players gleaned a bit of information from the springtime shadow boxing. Mimicking their rivals’ blanket defence and counterattacking was profitable, with Michael Shields and Eoin Cadogan getting enough support to prevent Michael Murphy or Colm McFadden scoring from play.

Eight of Donegal’s 10 points were from placed balls and for 25 minutes of the second half Jim McGuinness’ charges didn’t score at all. While Ken O’Halloran made two critical saves after half-time, both from Ross Wherity, which would have given Donegal a five-point advantage, and a Cadogan foul was all that prevented Murphy goaling late on, the All-Ireland champions had to earn every point.

At the other end Cork’s approach play struck the right blend between patience and quick changes of the point of attack. They didn’t launch too many long balls inside, but with Colm O’Neill stretchered off with a nasty knee injury – after curling over two sensational points – and Ciarán Sheehan, Donncha O’Connor and Daniel Goulding absent, the Rebels didn’t have the luxury of natural target men.

Utilising Mark Collins as a link man and auxiliary defender, particularly with Pa Kelly injured, was a key part to the result and huge positive. Collins was overlooked for the Dublin and Kildare losses – which I couldn’t fathom though may have been to do with his Sigerson-winning commitments with DIT – but since he’s been starting Cork have played more fluidly and won three games in a row.

He’s economical with possession, a lovely kickpasser, and nimble and fit enough to cover every blade of grass. The Castlehaven man unquestionably has the talent to nail down a championship berth.

Albeit against the full brunt of Donegal’s aggression, Cork were betrayed last season by their shooting from around the 45. They squandered opportunities again on Saturday – three times hitting the post from distance – but their approach was more coherent and the majority of their long-range efforts were justified.

Paudie Kissane’s two points were sublime, but first-half sub Liam Shorten, Aidan Walsh – with the score of the game – and Paul Kerrigan also landed rousing efforts. Kissane and Kerrigan provided the leadership in the final third of the field in the 20 minutes Cork outscored Donegal 0-7 to zip.

Kerrigan’s passes directly set up four points, and he was fouled for a free. With so many of Cork’s main men missing up front, he was a match-winner.

Perhaps the most satisfying element of the display was the contribution of the less established players. Shorten has only made a couple of fleeting cameos previously, but excelled once he settled after replacing O’Neill (indeed Cork were shellshocked until the break after he was carried off, failing to hit a point). Barry O’Driscoll landed one super point, assisted another, and living off scraps, impressed to a degree he hasn’t to date.

Andrew O’Sullivan was more comfortable as a wing-forward than he had been in midfield in previous league ties, handling a world of ball and displaying real composure, which hasn’t always been his trademark with Castletownbere and Beara.

Tomás Clancy from Fermoy doesn’t have the underage pedigree of some panellists, making his name with UCC, but is a dynamic runner from wing-back and held his own physically.
Counihan and his selectors have no choice but to persist with Cadogan and Shields in the last line of defence it seems – Cork U21 teams simply haven’t produced top-class corner-backs lately. Breaking up the Canty-O’Leary-Kissane axis at half-back and dropping half-forwards deep at least gives the dynamic duo license to make bursts upfield.

Canty is excelling as a holding midfielder, facilitating Walsh’s direct running, even if Rory Kavanagh spoiled the Kanturk man by and large on Saturday. Kissane and O’Leary played well but you could see Clancy and Damien Cahalane starting come summer, with one of the veterans kept as an impact sub.

Cork have been training like dogs – or Donegal at least – since December, while reshaping their game-plan on the training ground, and only now their football is catching up. Another win should see them into the league play-offs, and if it comes in Tralee next Sunday there’s the bonus of propelling Kerry towards Division Two.

The most important development of the week though, will be the outcome of the scan on Colm O’Neill’s knee.

The post Clear signs that the Cork footballers’ game plan is evolving appeared first on Evening Echo.

The post Kiernan misses the point of GAA appeared first on Evening Echo.

THERE are things we need to remember when we look at current results.

It’s February, two games into the football league. Dublin and Kildare are probably the two strongest teams in this league as regards current form and match fitness.
Kerry are under new management, missing all the Dr Croke’s contingent and probably three of the best forwards of the last decade or so.
Cork are more focused on ensuring they’re successful in August/September than springtime.
In fact, it seems more than a little harsh to demand a change in emphasis/style along with some new blood and just expect it all to click within a game or two.
Still, it’s a little odd to see Cork and Kerry both kind of struggling with form and results right now.
They’re both in very different places and trying very different things but there’s a sense of transition about them both at the same time.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s job is being made look an awful lot more difficult than it ought to be by certain circumstances but Kerry seem a group who really aren’t sure themselves where exactly they stand, who haven’t decided if they’re meant to be regenerating or ending an era or having one last go with the bulk of a group who’ve been around a while.
Cork’s transition is more tactical, in that they’re trying to introduce fresh ideas on how best to go about winning an All-Ireland while integrating the players most likely to develop that style efficiently. Both jobs will take time as they get through the learning process.
The Kildare game last Saturday offered signs of what they were trying to do differently, along with some old issues.
The half-back line was entirely new and full of legs.
The game itself was there for the winning or losing throughout and in truth Cork looked more likely winners until the Kildare goal – the sending-off was only a factor really in that once that first Kildare goal went in, it seemed to sap the belief from Cork that they could come back while a man down, and if you’re stretching, the goalscorer drifted in from a space Cahalane would likely have been covering if still on the field.
You only needed to see the first five minutes to recognise that Cork were at least thinking about being more direct.
Four times in that short period Cork kicked the ball long into their full-forward line through four different players — Shields, Cahalane (who was always the most willing to kick the ball in throughout and who will be a plus for this reason come summer), Walsh and Donncha O’Connor – and were pretty unlucky not to get anything from those attacks, Colm O’Neill being involved in all four chances created.
In this regard, the more often Ciarán Sheehan can get on the ball the better, as he both drove into space to score the Cork goal and created Cork’s best score with a crossfield pass for Donncha O’Connor’s point early in the second half.
Paddy Kelly getting back will help as a linkman.
How Cork move the ball remains a work in progress.
There’s this remaining tendency to fall back into a slower, safer mode of short handpassing, where the ball is moved sideways or backwards through an unnecessary amount of players without taking anybody in particular from the opposition out of the game and clogging up space in the middle of the field.
If the aim of attacking is to open the pitch up as big as possible, Cork sometimes tend to make it really small.
At one stage, in the 24th minute, Aidan Walsh started a breakaway around midfield, looked up, took a solo, ran into an opposition wall and passed the ball back to Ciarán Sheehan, who passed backwards and short to Paul Kerrigan, who was fouled about 50 metres out.
Rather than looking for a forward pass close to goal, Kerrigan passed backwards to Canty, who played a short one-two with Walsh, short handpassed to Cahalane, who running out of options and space, belted the ball up in the air towards goal.
That sort of move was repeated too often: several Cork players handpassing in a close group with nobody switching the angle of attack or breaking a tackle or making a run beyond the ball and the tackle line to open up space.
Basically it gives the defenders ages to load up on numbers so that by the time some Cork player looks to hit it long, the guys inside are well outnumbered.
Eoin Cadogan stopped up in possession out of defence, basketball style, at one stage in the first half and if you looked at his options, they were all static or within 20 yards of him with a Kildare marker goalside.
It needed a runner at speed getting his man turned, just to break that line or open up a gap so Cork could get possession on the run and in space.
Kerry are working their way through that phase where it’ll be too dangerous to write them off and yet all the noises coming from within the county suggest there are some relatively tough years ahead.
There were disturbing elements of the Dublin game from a Kerry viewpoint: how they were picked apart by the Dubs machine in defence, how they were pushed around physically by the Dubs machine all over the field, a lack of real flair or boldness (compared to say, Jack McCaffrey’s youthful spark for the opposition), the bare facts that it was a glimpse of the future, even if a couple of years down the line.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice was missing five serious forwards and that showed more than anything as just like against Mayo, ball after ball was kicked in only to bounce back right away – Tomás Ó Sé, in particular, must have kicked five or six long passes into his inside-forward line in the first half alone, only to see nothing sticking and Dublin regaining possession from it.
It was morale-sapping stuff, and that may be the biggest danger to both Munster sides.
Losing matches might be secondary right now but you don’t want to be losing hearts and minds and confidence this early in the campaign.
It’s always easier for young/new lads to work themselves into form and get settled if the team is performing and picking up wins — it takes the pressure off.
The experienced players won’t want to start doubting themselves either.
It’s nowhere near panic stations; both Cork and Kerry will be far better by April, never mind August.
The learning may need to be done quickly though.

The post Both Cork and Kerry are a work in progress this early in the league appeared first on Evening Echo.

Clonakilty Road Runners Athletics Club and Fit4Life organised a hugely successful Old Fashioned Sports Day and Family Picnic at the all-weather sports complex in Clonakilty last weekend.
This inaugural family event and sports day brought a very welcome reprieve from the inclement weather of recent weeks. Children of all ages participated in events from short sprints to old favourites such as the 3-legged, the egg and spoon and wheelbarrow races. There is nothing quite like the enthusiasm of children to awaken memories of bygone days and encourage parents to line up and race for pride and posterity. Children and parents took to the events like Olympians as new rivalries were sparked, and old ones reignited.
TROJAN
The club were indebted to the Trojan work of a dedicated band of volunteers and committee members who helped organise and run a tremendously successful event. A special word of thanks to an Mheara Cloch na gCoillte, Cionnaith O’Suilleabhain, who generously gave his time to award medals to all the worthy winners.

The organisers were also indebted to main sponsors Carbery Plastics Ltd, Mios Family Restaurant, Centra, The Clonakilty Waterfront Marathon, Batemans Shoes – Clonakilty, as without their generous support the event simply would not have been possible.

Raffle prizes were donated by Kevin Kelleher Tyres, An Sugan Bar & Restaurant, Coillte, Inchydoney Lodge & Spa, Finish Line Fitness (Mark Hilliard), West Cork Fit (Fiona O’Donnell), Kinetica and the Model Village, Clonakilty. Bob & Maria Hilliard’s kind offer of the Waterfront facilities was deeply appreciated as was the help and support of the Clonakilty Community Complex staff on the day of the event.

CLUB
Clonakilty Road Runners AC and Fit4Life is a new club and has quickly grown to over 140 members from modest beginnings. The club was formed in September 2011 to encourage participation in sport and physical activity and help members become improve their overall health and fitness.

The club caters for all ages and abilities with members running/walking in events from 5 and 10 km road races as well as half and full marathons. Fit4Life groups in Ballineen and Clonakilty meet several times each week and are steadily growing in popularity. The club is investing heavily in developing coaching expertise and hopes to open junior membership for children in Clonakilty and surrounding areas in the coming months.

Upcoming events include the Clonakilty Magic Mile on September 3rd and the Clonakilty Park Run. Further details on Clonakilty Road Runners AC & Fit4Life are available on the club’s facebook page or by emailing clonroadrunners@gmail.com.
Martin Kelleher

CLONAKILTY ROAD RUNNERS A.C. & FIT4LIFE
OLD FASHIONED SPORTS DAY
RESULTS 
  
SPRINTS
U4 GIRLS: 1st LANA O DONNELL, 2nd AMY KELLEHER and 3rd FARRAH O SULLIVAN
U4 BOYS: 1st EWAN KNOWLES, 2nd PETER O’MAHONY and 3rd JACOB KELLEHER
U6 GIRLS: 1st AMY MCCARTHY, 2nd SINEAD CROWLEY and 3rd MOYA KNOWLES
U6 BOYS: 1st LUKE KELLEHER, 2nd SEAN MCGUIRE and 3rd RYAN O DONNELL
U8 GIRLS 1st LUCY MCCARTHY, 2nd ELLEN CROWLEY and 3rd AMY MCCARTHY
U8 BOYS: 1st JACK BARRETT, 2nd MATTHEW DALY and 3rd LUKE KELLEHER
U10 GIRLS: 1st RACHAEL O SULLIVAN, 2nd LUCY MCCARTHY and 3rd ELLEN CROWLEY
U10 BOYS: 1st SAM DALY, 2nd TIM MCCARTHY and 3rd SAM WALSH
U12 GIRLS: 1st RACHAEL O’SULLIVAN, 2nd LUCY MCCARTHY and 3rd ELLEN CROWLEY
U12 BOYS: 1st TIM MCCARTHY, 2nd SAM DALY and 3rd SAM WALSH
U14 GIRLS: 1st SALLY NAUGHTON, 2nd RACHAEL O’SULLIVAN and 3rd LUCY MCCARTHY
U14 BOYS: 1st SAM DALY, 2nd SAM WALSH and 3rd TIM MC CARTHY
  
SACK RACES
U8 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st LUCY MCCARTHY, 2nd MILLIE NAUGHTON and 3rd JACK BARRETT
U12 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st CIARA FERGUSON, 2nd ISABEL ICHU and 3rd RACHAEL O’SULLIVAN
OPEN RACE: 1st CHRIS NORTHY, 2nd PAUL DEANE and 3rd JAMES OLDHAM
  
3 LEGGED RACES
U8 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st LUCY/ELLEN, 2nd LUKE/CIAN and 3rd JACK/MADISON
U12 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st EAMON/RACHAEL, 2nd ISABEL/ANNA and 3rd REBBECCA/LAUREN
OPEN RACE: 1st NIAMH/AILEEN, 2nd EDDIE/CHRIS 3rd TONY/BERNARD
  
EGG AND SPOON RACES
U8 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st LUCY MCCARTHY, 2nd AOIFE O’BRIEN and 3rd BENJAMIN
U12 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st ISABEL ICHU, 2nd KATIE KIELY and 3rd NIAMH KIELY
OPEN RACE: 1st ANNE O’BRIEN, 2nd MAEBH WALSH and 3rd CHRIS NORTHEY
  
WHEELBARROW RACES  
U8 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st NIAMH/MEABH, 2nd LUCY/ELLEN and 3rd MILLIE/SARAH
U12 BOYS/GIRLS: 1st NIAMH/MEABH, 2nd EAMON/RACHAEL and 3rd LISA/CIARA
OPEN RACE: 1st BRIAN/KILLIAN, 2nd PAUL/CHRISTINE and 3rd EDDIE/MAIREAD
  
LADIES RACE: 1st SALLY NAUGHTON, 2nd ANNE O BRIEN and 3rd LAUREN O SULLIVAN
MENS RACE: 1st EOIN NAGLE, 2nd KILLIAN DEASY and 3rd CONAN O SULLIVAN

The post Clonakilty Road Runners Athletics Club and Fit4Life Day – Ger McCarthy appeared first on Evening Echo.

That was the six weeks after the marathon.
While I felt I recovered quickly, once the dust settled a few days after Cork the lethargic feeling kicked in and it just wouldnt go away, while I could never be accused of carrying out my recovery weeks in a textbook fashion (or any of my training for that matter), I was surprised by how long it was taking to get some sort of legs back.
Having been thro’ it all before, differing causes, overtraining, racing too hard and too often, late nights and early mornings its just a case of riding the storm and going thro’ the motions safe in the knowledge that somewhere, sometime the legs will come back. It just takes a spark.

Heading to Kilworth 2 weeks ago, I had myself down for a 31/32 min. five mile if I ran well.
Crossing the line well inside 31 minutes gave me a lift and brought the brain back to a time when I thought I might be able to break that elusive 30 minutes.
That was the spark. All of a sudden your off the plateau and training with conviction again.
The spring comes back and the heaviness drains out of the legs.
In the space of a week, the mojo’s back. Now you’ve got to be careful not to overdo it.
When you feel good you think about the next race and it cant come fast enough, when your not right you couldnt care less if you race again or not.
Thats not to say you dont want to run, funny thing is, even after a ‘heavy’ run you will feel good (If only for the fact that its over!!).
The danger now is overtraining, knowing when to hold back, knowing how many 400’s is enough, knowing how many miles is enough.
When the form is there, freshness is the key, maintaining and looking after yourself is paramount. When you get it right its hard to beat the sensation of standing on the line waiting for the gun to go.
 When you know your going well you feel in control and confident, when the form isnt quite there you struggle to eliminate the sense of foreboding at the kicking your about to receive from anyone your willing to take it from.
When your strong you just wont take it.
This is more like it.
These days Im running fresh, this in itself is enough of a reason to run (or cycle or swim or do whatever you do), days when you dont feel the ground under your feet, the leg speed is up, all your movements are crystal in your minds eye.
Some might call it a purple patch, I call it a purple haze, inspired by the song, a warm glow created by a natural high, effects not totally alien to the performer.
Its now Im reaping the benefits of the long marathon miles.
These miles provide a solid base to work off, Once they’re in the bank they’re in the bank.
I went to the 3rd race of the Ballycotton summer series last week, sub 30 was the goal heading for Churchtown.
I Got it by the skin of my teeth. The head was right and the fight is back.
Been a long time coming, how long it stays is another matter, but thats not important right now.
The thing is to keep at it, chipping away, a lot of the time you feel like your going nowhere but eventually it clicks.

http://kealansbikeshed.blogspot.ie/

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           Bit of a lull, energy levels, motivation, training, races, mindset, no race to focus the energies on. Not that im bored or anything. The kids have been sick for the last two weeks. Jenny’s up to her ears in college. Daddy type training schedule kicks into gear. One of the lessons learned over the last 6 years – better to get out late than not at all.
          The late evening run, once detested has now become a favourite. Most people have settled in for the night, bar a few walkers, the streets and trails are my own.  Whether the sun’s going down or the rain is bouncing off the floor its a nice time to get out. Its not a favourite time for most as it means there’ll be no sleep before midnight. A big text book no no for the serious athlete. The 15/16 hour training weeks of 10 years ago are a vague memory from a different existence. Now the importance of balance is paramount, back then I didnt know the meaning of the word. If I wasnt bustin my ass on the bike I was thinking about it. All that needed to be sorted out was work, eat and making the 7 o clock group spin. The only thing to worry about was the form and making sure the bike was up to scratch for Sunday. In hindsight racing every sunday was too much racing for this brain and subconsciously there was a  staleness in my attitude and approach to the bike long before the family came along. A fact that only became apparent when pressure for time became a factor.

Once the initial soaking is out of the way training in the rain can be one of the nicest times to be out

            When available training time goes from 15 to 6 hours a week, There needs to be a bit of a spring clean on the imaginary training diary, wasteful hours going out for a ride because ‘thats what you do’ are eliminated. Training sessions need to be quality. Quality speed, quality power, quality recovery. Because mileage is a huge part of bikesport, my game was going to suffer. (Thats what I thought back then! after much experimentation in the preceding years I realise I gave mileage too much headspace and think I could have performed better on less wasted mileage and more quality miles).
            An invitation by a neighbour to head for youghal for a sprint triathlon was taken up. Crystal skies and a glass sea didnt materialise on the first day out. Youghal was wet and windy and forty shades of grey. A 20 min. 750 mtr swim in 10 deg. choppy waters sans wetsuit was nearly enough to not try another one. I got on the bike like a wounded animal and hung onto my place in the run. When was the next one? This type of event was perfectly suited to a 6 hour training week, and maybe with one or two 6am sessions thrown in a fella could get handy. That was ’07. Four years of triathlon, a love of open water swimming and a love hate relationship with running was born. Being a jack of all trades is fine but curiosity got the better of me, with gradually improving run splits I wanted to see how fast I could go by committing to running for a while. The answer to date is not very.

Not very appealing for the greehorn triathlete – its amazing what happens when you take the first jump though.

 
               The early morning run is fantastic, but like anything so great theres a price to pay. Rolling out of bed on a wednesday morning at 5.50 am isnt easy. The only time I can do this is if I’ve a target in the near distance in the form of a race. The reward is a wide eyed breakfast and a day where nothings going to phase me. Extreme time efficiency is a major selling point. A good workout can be thrown in with 40 minutes door to door. As a runner I’ll never have the fluidity I feel on the bike. Understandable, over 25 years being shaped on the bike, these legs are never going to like what I’ve been trying to do to them for the last few months but its keeping the engine ticking over and im enjoying trying to get quicker. Our wet summer has given me the opportunity to try running barefoot without injury and its like getting a new toy. I feel 2 stone lighter with the shoes in the ditch, massive brain stimulation on random days is a nice side effect and Im loving it.
              So why am I missing the bike? ………. I was (almost) born on it. Certainly born into it. Tireless work by Fermoy cycling club over the years has ensured a steady flow of young cyclists entering the melee from year to year. Some more talented than others, everyone finding their niche. Its in the blood, The old man, The uncles, The cousins, The brother, a lot of my friends, all cyclists. 25 years in the saddle myself bar a few blips along the way. My father still tells the story of cycling from Fermoy to Belfast and back by Kerry at the age of 14 with a few other young fellas from town. The uncle was a prolific racer in the region. A Junior national Champion and numerous grass track medals to his name, lined up against Kelly. Raced against Fermoys greatest, Frank O Sullivan, King of  the once hugely popular, now extinct grass track racing scene of the 60′s and 70′s. Course Im going to miss it from time to time.
            I’ve just returned from Clonmel where I was a spectator at the national cycling championships  over the weekend. A flirtation with my first love, it was always going to end in tears. 165 kilometres won at an average speed of 41kph. Not for the faint hearted. Big mistake on my part, The sun came out and everything good about bike racing came out to play. It was the type of race you’d want to be a part of, well organised, big numbers, top names, noise, colour, it had it all. Clonmels main street was like a who’s who of Irish cycling legends. Kelly himself, the high king, almost anonymous chatting to old friends on the street corner, nonplussed by the carnival going on around him. He’d seen it all before.
            Its all over, riders sitting around on the road, dazed and confused after four and a half hours of hardcore effort. Four and a half hours trying to live with somebody elses pace. Im full of admiration. Satisfaction and relief etched on their faces. Just finishing will net them a top 40. I spot another guy seemingly full of the same admiration. Looks like an athlete. Definitely is. An Irish Olympian from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, different game though, a sub 28 minute 10 K man on the athletics track, A 47.17 for his fastest of 6 victories at the famous Ballycotton 10 (thats 10 miles in 47 minutes!!), Irish 4 mile record holder with a 17.59. Thats in the past, today hes looking at these guys like a youngfella at his first race. Noel Berkeley lined up in the pissing rain for the vets champs on saturday, didnt have the luckiest of days, coming off on the greasy roads around the town. A new passion, I suspect it’ll take a lot more than that to keep him off the bike. Not the only well known runner to change over to 2 wheels in recent times, last week Sonia O Sullivan rode a charity event from Paris to London, if the pictures are anything to go by running might not be the only natural gift she possesses.

Sonia O Sullivan pulling in for a feed stop near Paris

         
             On the road home ………..  “what goes on for a cyclist on the lead up to a ‘glamour’ day like a sun soaked nationals?” Months of long hard winter miles, followed by months of club promotions lining up with 30 or so other riders for a 120k race being battered by cross winds and rain. Important races increasing as the year slips by, building to a crescendo for the Ras and the nationals, then the void, some riders slipping into anonimity until next year, the more committed picking whats left on the calendar and trying to grab a win before the season fades to an end and the ‘cycle’ starts all over again. Pretty much the same as all real sports, take your pick, whatever floats your boat, Whats not to love about it?
 
              
Kealan
              

The post Kealan O’Connor’s latest cycling blog appeared first on Evening Echo.

The Spice of Life

One wet Saturday last January I picked up a magazine in the local newsagents. driven by  curiosity and interest I brought it home and did the usual flick 1st and then read it over the next week or so. Thrown together with dodgy editing and like most sports publications, riddled with ‘buy these shoes and you’ll go faster’ ads, An interview feature was missing a full page! Quirky and I liked it. Felt like it was put together by someone rushing out the door for a run. Tales of runners overnighting on forest tracks covering 50/60 miles a day. Mountain men and Women. Tough as nails. salt of the earth. I wanted to try it. Trail running. Hill running. Mountain running. Fell running. Off road, like mountain biking without a bike.

                After some minor research I discovered the existence of a lively trail scene here, a full calendar of events scattered all over the country. I scanned the calendar and last wednesday found myself lining up on an atmospheric Irish summers evening at the trail head in Ballyhoura. Forty or so runners being chewed alive by midgies glad to head upwards for the first half of the 8K race. Late evening sun breaking through threatening summer thunder clouds, setting the scene for what was shaping up to be a bit of kick ass fun.

                1k in and the hurt is on, Im here for the craic and to avoid a mentally impossible training run at home, the laid back attitude is decreasing with every step upwards. Running on my own thro’ 2k, I close up on two runners before the entrance to the bog and the final rock strewn incline before the 4k drop down to the finish, the six in front are gone. After 25 minutes of climbing from the start line (loose definition), an impressive descending display sees one of our trio disappear out of sight, no stranger to the game by the looks of it. We’re now descending thro’ heavy boglands off a mini plateau, Not quite matching the mental image Id had of gliding barechested across mountain ridges with the sounds of the Fleet foxes wafting through the breeze, but not bad all the same, totally refreshing and a great workout. feels like im on top of the world but for a wednesday evening in June the top of Limerick will do nicely. The views to the valley below are spectacular. If I wasnt playing at racing, a tent and a few beers would sit nicely up here.

                 Steep uneven descents demand sharp thinking and concentration, this is where im losing big ground to the boys up front. Sound advice received post race would have been good now (One helpful runner told me, ‘make sure your foot hits the ground before your face’, I’ll carry that one with me for a while). Onto the main trail for the last km and theres no one in sight front or back, the foot comes off the gas for the downhill cruise home. Come home covered in black bog mud up to the thighs and a grin like a cheshire cat. Black mud covering one runners face and hair, evidence of a full on ‘face plant’ into a bog pool higher up the mountain, highlights the fun involved. If nothing else lining up for something like this refreshes the mindset after the post marathon gorging and inevitable slow down. Not post race blues exactly but more kick back laziness.

                 Big workout, full blown post mortems with people I didnt know three hours previous, great tea and sandwiches (all for a fiver!) sent me home with the big happy buzz. Karl Corcoran on lyric tops it off with a crackin tune from ‘the unwanted’ to set me on the road home. Summer was on a wednesday this year, lucky for me I got out in it. 2 days later and Im dealing with an unusual mix of  tormenting midgie bite rash, heavy rain and 12 degree temperatures. The joys of this great country. 

Kealan                       

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               ’I always start these events with very lofty goals, like Im going to do something special. And after a point of body deterioation, the goals get evaluated down to basically where I am now – where the best I can hope for is to avoid throwing up in my shoes’. Not my words, but the words of established ultra runner Ephraim Romesberg 65 miles into the infamous Badwater ultramarathon in the states. This quote struck a chord a while back when I came across it first, Now after my initiation into the marathon club it hasnt stopped ringing in my head since the half way point on the waterfront near Mahon.

                  Thankfully I didnt have to worry about throwing up in my shoes, but as regards re-evaluating my goals, after yesterday iv become a bit of an expert. My first marathon, It was always going to be a steep learning curve. After listening to sound advice from all corners over the last few months, I counted on my own inexperienced marathon intuition and decided to go with the 3 hour pacer.

                  ‘Ah yeah have a go, whats the worst that can happen?, if its too fast after five or six miles, pull back and get comfortable in another group, on the other hand if im feeling good I could be on for a great marathon debut’.

                  Mile one and you wonder is it possible to run slower? pre race nerves in the 2 minutes before the start has adrenaline running thro my veins  making the 6.45min pace feel pedestrian, my brain and my nerves fighting to take control of a delicate situation. Out around the streets of Blackpool, the buzz from the locals is infectious and the clear morning sunshine that accompanied all my long runs on the lead up to the big day has come out again. I dont know if you could hand pick better conditions for a marathon, the city looks great. Iv intentionally left the garmin at home and decided to run ‘free’, going back to nature and leaving it up to the pacer. 

                  Approaching silver springs, a nice size 3 hour group is gliding along effortlessly under the watchful eye of one of the most experienced pacers in the game. economical and smooth, encouraging, advising and talking to anyone in his vicinity. Now well into my stride, its all about staying focused and calm and enjoying the ride as we exit the tunnel. Cruising, ‘I could be made for the this, Im well on top here’. seven miles done and the ramp to bring us off the ring road gives me a sting!, nice downhill to compensate followed by another sting!

                  Downward Evaluation no.1 -  thoughts to self, ‘Q – when is the right time to ease off?’,'A – before its too late’. ‘Is it too late already?’, na’, easing off the 3hr. pace Theres plenty of daylight before the next runners come up from behind, empty a bottle of water and pick up another one at Blackrock castle. Along the waterfront approaching the halfway point in 1.32 hr, one of my experienced running partners comes from behind, I decline an offer to run with him, hes going too fast. Trouble ahead? Reality bites hard and accepting that Iv gone out too fast is causing me problems. Id settle for 3.10. Passing the old disused railway, another of my buddies comes from behind and we run together, chatting takes my mind off the pain. Down onto the marina, a welcome breeze freshens me up and on we go, the rise up the south link and on to Turners cross is causing more problems.

                  Downward Evaluation no. 2 – Have to leave Brendan carry on, the legs dont seem to be coming back, I dont think I’ll be getting a second wind. nyeargh, This hurts. the 3.15 group cant be far behind. unfortunately thats not an option for me either. mile 18 and its all about survival as they glide effortlessly by. ‘what about 3.20, would ya be happy with that?’, ‘bollocks! ok, I’ll take it’. left turn at mile 19 and on down towards the lough, big crowd here with lots of sponges and water, this is like Christmas. A right turn here would take me back to the car and put an end to this suffering. Hours pounding the roads, Jenny and kids waiting for their man at the finish, not an option today, time to knuckle down and face the music. Darren’s looking after the Fermoy gang, pulls up beside me, hands me a bottle and we chat, from the waist up Iv no problems.

                  Downward evaluation no. 3 – My Alpe d’huez at wilton credit union inflicts more pain, the descent on wilton road’s no help, model farm road seems to point skyward. Tennis village, inchagaggin lane, onto the infamous straight road with a headwind to boot. This is so hard its nearly funny. On the home run but at this rate theres another 15 minutes, good exercise in pain tolerance. I feel like iv gotten soft from lack of racing, I feel like im missing some fight, cant put my finger on it. In hindsight Id thrown the head. At this rate im looking at 4hrs. Dont care, I just need to finish. Onto the quays, good crowd. Onto Patricks bridge, the crowd take me out of my stupor, feeling solid cruising down Patrick st. where did that come from, where was it for the last hour and a half. 3.28. wouldnt have accepted it on the startline, Il gladly take it now. One marathon in the bag. The worst race I ever enjoyed, will I do another one? Too right.

                 With the amount of people doing marathons globally you could be forgiven for thinking that, you know, they cant be that hard? Not many people climb everest or swim the channels? The marathon is an accessible everest or channel for anyone whos willing to throw their hat in the ring, for anyone who ‘does a time’ I have a new respect after trying it myself, for anyone doing it to finish I have even more so. For anyone thinking about doing one, think no more, pick one and enter it. The dilemma now is, which one, its gonna be hard to match the first.

 Till next time

Kealan

To the Organisers, Volunteers and Runners. Congratulations on a job well done.

Check out some of my older posts at  http://kealansbikeshed.blogspot.ie/

The post Kealan O’Connor – marathon blog appeared first on Evening Echo.