The occasion of an All-Ireland final and what it means for Russell Rovers' Brian Hartnett

Seldom do players get an opportunity to line out in Croke Park for an All-Ireland final in their club colours. Fewer get to do that twice.

Unfortunately for Brian Hartnett and Russell Rovers – the first chase for All-Ireland success was a failure.

Having gone all the way from Cork Junior A HC winners to All-Ireland finalists, the east Cork outfit fell short against Kilkenny’s Conahy Shamrocks.

Now, Hartnett and his teammates have earned the opportunity to atone for the heartbreak in 2020, and being able to play in Croke Park again is a special feeling.

“It’s exciting,” he begins. “It’s great to still be involved this time of the year, it’s been a long year but there was definitely the excitement over the break, over Christmas – since the semi-final.

“It's unique to be able to do it twice, so close together with the club. It’s obviously an amazing venue.

“The final, it goes quite quick,” Hartnett remarks. “That’s my memory from the last one!

“You’re out there doing the warmup, then you’re straight into it. 

Next thing you know it kind of goes in the blink of an eye.

“You’re trying to take it all in but also stay focussed on the task at hand and the game.” 

While it may be a lot to take in, it’s an opportunity that Bud Hartnett and his teammates will relish – irrespective of the outcome.

“From a club perspective, just the number of teams that never get an opportunity. Even those that don’t get [to win] a county or battle every year to try and even get a county final.

“To keep going on through the provincial and get to an All-Ireland final – it’s like lightning striking twice, to be here again,” Hartnett admits. “It’s a strange one. There was obviously disappointment in 2020. Going up there and not getting the result we wanted.

“We were beaten by the better team on the day, maybe the occasion might have got the better of us.

“The whole playing in Croke Park and things like that. That will stand to us now, that a lot of the lads have been in this situation already.” 

While the prior experience of lining out in Croke Park is something that Rovers have in their locker, the fact they’re up against a Kilkenny side again means it will be another tough task.

HOMEWORK

“As we have done for every team this year, you do your homework as much as you can. You give them the attention and respect they deserve.

“But then you focus back on yourselves and getting right for it,” Hartnett explains. “When you’re playing the Kilkenny teams – you look at Thomastown last year, winning intermediate then going up winning senior.

Every team that comes out of Kilkenny is going to be competitive.

“You’re never getting an easy game there. We’re under no illusions about how good they’ll be. But we are just focussing on maximising what we’re bringing to the table and making sure we bring the best out of ourselves.” 

No club side goes into a season with the target of an All-Ireland final – but at what point does that become a realistic target?

“Probably after the Munster final, when you’re one game away. Then you realise you can really do this again. When it actually became one game away.

“The main thing with Cork, the county championship is so competitive – you’re so consumed with trying to get to a final there and get over the line.

“I don’t like to say it’s bonus territory, but Cork have great history in the Munster [Junior] Championship.

“When you look back, we’re the sixth team in a row to win it from Cork. The Cork sides are always strong.” 

Preparation is key for every fixture, no matter the grade – or round. But when it’s an All-Ireland final, it’s different. It means more. There’s far more at stake.

It’s imperative that your preparation is the same, that routine is the same.

It’s the only way to deal with the challenge in front of you.

“At the end of the day – it’s just another game,” he remarks. “Obviously, there’s a bit more of a trip involved this time going to Dublin, as opposed the Munster or the county final being played in Cork.

“There are elements that are different, but that’s part of it.

“You just have to take those on board and get on with it really. A lot of lads would have their own way of managing that, but I do think being there before, that part of it might be a help.

“We know the setup, we know the small things; walking around the pitch beforehand, the dressing rooms, stuff like that. That hopefully will help from a nerves’ perspective.”