Matthew Bradley: A Munster final mightn't come around again, we have to make the most of it

Matthew Bradley has been a busy operator this year but he’s hoping this weekend won’t be the end of Aghabullogue’s journey for this season.

The Muskerry side take on An Ghaeltacht in the AIB Munster Club IFC final this afternoon in Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale (4pm).

Aghabullogue have already achieved the double as they look to win a first provincial football title. 

“What we've achieved so far this year has been remarkable for the club and the community,” Bradley says.

“But I suppose opportunities like a Munster final, especially for clubs like us, won't come around potentially ever again. When you're in it, you have to make the most of it.

“At the same time, we’re under no illusions of the task that's in front of us. An Ghaeltacht are a serious team and they beat Dingle this year so that will tell you everything. Hopefully we can give a good performance on the day anyway.” 

Aghabullogue have had two full weeks to prepare for this game after their semi-final victory over Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan.

After playing week in week out for some time, being able to fully focus on the big ball is a plus.

“Any knocks and stuff like that, you can get lads looked at and you can freshen up the bodies,” the marksman said on the two-week gap between the games.

“All along we were kind of taking it game by game. There was no priority put into one code. We managed a heavy schedule there fairly well.

“The two weeks is obviously a bonus because you get more football sessions in than you usually would all along.

“Going into this game now, we are the underdogs for a change, you have a bit more freedom in that regard. There's no pressure as such on you.

“At the end of the day, we just want to give a performance and try to get as much as we can out of the game and the occasion. Ultimately, Munster finals are there to be won as well."

It has been well documented that Bradley has been one of the busiest players on Leeside this year. As well as playing football and hurling, he’s also a very talented soccer player with Coachford.

As the Aghabullogue football manager Ray Keane said after the county final success over Uibh Laoire, ‘People go on about dual clubs, but Aghabullogue are actually a triple club because they’ve football, hurling and soccer.’ So how does Bradley balance it all especially with the congested nature of the calendar?

“In fairness, we’re very lucky to have three sets of understanding management teams. Our soccer manager, Donal Moynihan, he’d be a big GAA man himself. And then in fairness to Ray Keane and Micheál McGrath, they’re very understanding. Look, as a community, everyone just wants to see the two clubs succeed.

“With regards to balancing it all, I suppose there’s no easy answer to that. You can give the usual cliché answer that you look after yourself and all that stuff, but I honestly don’t know.

“I suppose when you’re doing so well and when you have so much momentum, you probably just don’t take too much notice. It’s a hard task, there’s no doubt about that. When you’re enjoying it too, it makes it a lot easier.”