UCC hurling chief Paddy Crowley saw Canon O'Brien's influence first hand

It’s the best part of six decades since Paddy Crowley came into contact with Fr Michael O’Brien – and, even after his school days ended, he was still receiving ‘feedback’ from the great man.

On Sunday, the hurlers of UCC take on Cork in the annual season-opening Canon O’Brien Cup game at the Mardyke (12pm).

As president of the hurling section of UCC GAA Club, Crowley plays a major role in ensuring that the game retains prominence, which in turn keeps the legacy of the Canon front and centre. Crowley knew the Innishannon native better than most.

“In 1963, we won our first Harty and All-Ireland colleges titles,” he says, “I was midfield on that team though I was an inter-cert student at the time. Would you believe, Ringy [Christy Ring] actually coached that team.

“The Canon came to Farranferris when I was in Leaving Cert. He was just getting involved in the teams then – he went on to have success with the team Tim [Crowley’s brother] was on, he coached them to a Dean Ryan and then the Harty in 1969.

For years, he was a patient of mine and, I’ll tell you, he was a hard task-master to please. He’d say, ‘What are you doing to me?!’”

What the Canon did for Farranferris, UCC and Cork hurling is certainly worthy of recognition and the fact that the cup is still going, nearly 13 years after it was inaugurated, shows the esteem in which he was held.

This clash brings extra interest, given that it will be the first public outing for Cork under Ben O’Connor. UCC will have a number of the Rebels squad in their ranks as they gear up for their Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup opener – a local derby against MTU Cork on Thursday week, January 8.

“It’s often the first chance that the Cork supporters will have to see players that they can earmark and keep an eye on for the year,” Dr Crowley says.

We have a fair competition for places now in the UCC Fitzgibbon team and this will be a huge platform to show your wares.

ONE CLUB

“We always look forward to it as being a really important fixture for UCC hurling as we try to keep the college’s name up there in lights. We’re one club, across hurling, football, ladies’ football and camogie and that’s a help.

“It’s all about marketing nowadays and the facilities are not great – they’re talking about redeveloping the Farm but in all the years I’m there, nothing has changed, working from the one pitch.

“Compared to UL, for example, they’re miles ahead of us.”

To that end, the fixture serves as a shop window of sorts for UCC – where, incidentally, the Canon’s nephew, William, heads up the archaeology department – while of course there is also the tangible benefit of a material gain for the charity partners involved.

This year, Rise & Shine and Stand 4 Féile will be beneficiaries of the gate receipts.

Rise & Shine an inclusive, volunteer-led national organisation that provides opportunities for children and young adults with additional needs to go on life-changing supported holidays to Lourdes and in Ireland, while Stand 4 Féile was set up to assist Allihies teenager Féile O’Sullivan, who sustained life-changing injuries in a farming accident earlier this year.

“They are two very worthy causes,” says Dr Crowley, “and both are deserving of support.

“There’s no charge at the gate on Sunday but we’re asking people to be as generous as they can.”