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07 October 2010
Since work commitments forced him to move to London, Noel Harrisson has busied himself as the Hurling Guru in the English Capital, as Coach and Trainer of the Kilburn Gaels Senior Hurlers. Back-boned by a number of well-known Clare hurlers, Noels in-depth knowledge of the game has steered them to the Final, accounting for none other than Robert Emmetts along the way, a team well known by all Clooney-Quin fans.
A substantial number of local Clooney-Quin Folk are making the journey to London this weekend to support Noel and the Kilburn Club, who have visited our GAA Club on a number of occasions, as well as hosting Clooney-Quin in London in the past.
We wish Noel and Kilburn Gaels the very Best of Luck against Sean Traceys in the Final on Sunday!
From The Irish Post
http://www.irishpost.co.uk/tabId/63/itemId/5424/Murphys-defeat-a-blessing-in-disguise-for-Kilburn.aspx
By: TONY TIGHE
ON Sunday Kilburn Gaels will appear in only the second Senior Championship final in their history, and according to two club stalwarts Fr Murphys must take some credit for their progress.
Tipped by many to clinch a first senior crown, Kilburn looked the real deal when they defeated Robert Emmetts in their opening group game. But in their next match they crashed to a seven-point defeat to Fr Murphys. It served as a worthwhile reality check.
“It was a real wake-up call because in years gone by we’ve gone unbeaten through the group stages only to come up short by a couple of scores in the semi-finals,” says full-forward Michael O’Dwyer. “The loss to Fr Murphys this year copped us and made us realise that we can be beaten, and also served to make sure that we aren’t beaten again.”
Keith Kennedy concurs. “The Fr Murphys game served as a warning not to take anyone for granted. It alerted us of any weaknesses in the team. It was better that happened in the group stages as it allowed us to start again with a clean slate, and it’s gone well.”
It certainly has. Since that loss Kilburn have grown in stature with every game. They responded with a seven-point win over Sunday’s opponents, Sean Treacys, Granuaille, and back-to-back wins over defending champions St. Gabriels to clinch a first final appearance since 2006.
O’Dwyer and Kennedy both featured in that decider, which ended in disappointment as Kilburn fell to a superior Robert Emmetts team who would go on to capture an All-Ireland title. Little did they think at the time it would be four years before they would reach another final.
“In hindsight, we came up against a much better team that day. Robert Emmetts went on to win an AllIreland Club Championship,” recalls O’Dwyer.
“If you compare the way we prepared for that final with this one, this year has been a lot more professional. We have a really good trainer this year in Noel Harrison. He’s really brought the team on.
“There are about four or five players left from that team; they’ve been here before and are setting the tone for the rest of the lads, letting them know what to expect.”
In terms of expectations, a Kilburn Gaels v Robert Emmetts final was predicted by many, but Sean Treacys threw a spanner in the works with a stunning victory over Emmetts at the semi-final stage.
“I didn’t see a lot of the game as I was preparing for our own semi-final,” says Kennedy, a native of Killenaule in Tipperary. “Robert Emmetts were many people’s favourites with the panel of players they had this season. Sean Treacys would have been underdogs but it just goes to show you cannot underestimate any team in London.”
“We felt that if the Emmetts did reach the final, their defence was there for the taking,” admits O’Dwyer.
“We strongly believed that bar Niall Healy, their other five backs weren’t up to standard with the rest of their team.
“Sean Treacys have a really strong full-forward line. I watched the first half of their game and they had Johnny Holohan, Terry Delaney and David Maher, three players who have hurled with London at one point or another during the year. They’re all from Tipperary and have massive hurling backgrounds.
“They obviously felt the same way we did about Emmetts’ defence. I spoke to one of the Treacys players a fortnight before the game and he felt that they were going to upset a few people, and that’s what they did.”
While the full-forward line of Sean Treacys needs to be well marshalled, Kilburn aren’t lacking in terms of quality forwards either. In John Reddan and Donal Kinsella the north Londoners possess two of the top players in the capital. The pair gunned down St. Gabriels in the semifinal, sharing 14 points and along with captain Colm Forde, O’Dwyer believes they have brought the team onto the next level.
“If you saw the game with St. Gabriels, John Reddan and Colm Forde were a different class,” says O’Dwyer, who goaled in that game.
“Donal Kinsella also put in the sort of performance that we know he’s capable of, and that he’s been threatening to do since he joined us. We need those lads to reproduce the same on Sunday.
“John Reddan and Colm Forde were two massive signings for us. They’ve played at the top level so they have that bit more experience. They don’t panic when things aren’t going to plan.”
Despite having never won a Senior Championship, Kilburn head into Sunday’s game with the favourites tag hanging over their head, something both players dismiss. “Sean Treacys have done just as much as we have to get there,” states Kennedy.
Nevertheless, just 60 minutes separate Kilburn Gaels and that historic first Senior title, and O’Dwyer — who has done great work for the club at underage level — knows just how much victory on Sunday will mean to everyone involved in the club.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he admits. “The club was formed 13 years ago, we’ve had ups and downs and seen many good hurlers come and go without getting their hands on the main prize. Years have gone by where we felt that this was our time, like 2006, only to lose heavily.
“After the St. Gabriels game, a load of people involved with the club came into the dressing room, patting you on the shoulder and shaking your hand; it means so much to them.
“We’ve been knocking on the door for some time. Hopefully this year we can do the business.”
