Daire Connery on battling back from injury, Piarsaigh's season ahead and his Cork career

Na Piarsaigh ace Daire Connery is staying positive as he battles back from injury. 

The gifted hurler was in flying form last season in the SAHC but is now on the road to recovery again from a torn ACL.

Connery from the famed northside clan who have given so much to their beloved club, was an exceptional underage player for Cork, lining out in four All-Ireland finals across U17, minor and U20, winning two. He also made a senior inter-county start against Waterford in 2020 and was involved in the squad for a few years.

It all began in the Na Piarsaigh academy, his father Christy guiding him up to the age of 10 before the legendary Seán Óg Ó hAilpín took over up to minor level.

"I won a minor county with the club before suffering disappointments at inter-county level, losing a minor All-Ireland in 2017 and an U20 in 2019,” said Connery, who was also a key figure in the U17 All-Ireland final win over Dublin in '17.

Connery scored three points in Cork’s U20 final win against Dublin, ending a long wait from 1998 at that level.

He first lined out for Na Piarsaigh’s senior in championship against Bandon in 2019 but they haven't enjoyed any great success in recent seasons, though but Connery is a firm believer they will return to the top tier.

“To be honest, we have struggled big time in the last 10 years. In 2022, when we were relegated from the Premier Senior grade that it really hit home to us how far our standards had dropped.

It was a real wake-up call and it shows what happens if you take your eye off the ball, despite the successes we had at underage and minor."

It's not that they aren't putting in the hard yards right now to try and return to Premier Senior.

“We are training four and five nights a week, which is on par with senior inter-county training. It shows the commitment needed to play at the top level.” 

There are no shortcuts at Senior A, with Bride Rovers and Castlelyons contesting last year's decider.

“It’s a competitive grade in Senior A as all teams have the same ambition but believe me, we are now aware what it will take.” 

They're boosted this term by the return of some experienced hurlers.

“Look we have Eddie Gunning back and we have some decent young lads coming through that we hope will adjust quickly because playing at senior level is a different animal to minor.

“Some of our lads got some good education playing Harty Cup with the North Mon AG so they are aware how to train properly and keep themselves in shape. We now have younger guys challenging the older lads for places in our team and when you look at someone like Pa O’Rourke, who is getting challenged by DJ Coffey... that’s great to see at training." 

TESTING

Turning 26 this year, Connery’s positivity should be commended given the setbacks he's endured.

“I never got injured in my young days but at the age of 22, I ruptured five ligaments that came off the bone in my ankle and that put me out for four months."

On his return, he was back in with the Cork hurlers but then tore a hamstring. 

On the last night of rehab, I tore the other hamstring.

“I had a bad run of injuries from 2022 to 2023 but the following year I ruptured the medial ligament in my knee playing in Kanturk." 

He's an injury-free run in 2024.

"I did my ACL against Carrigtwohill last season and I am now in rehabilitation again."

Those injuries were a factor in Connery being let go from the Cork squad but he's rather philosophical about how it panned out.

“After doing well in minor and U21 you are looking for the natural progression but you soon find out that’s not the way it goes. After my poor display in 2020, it was always an uphill battle." 

The conversation with then Cork manager Pat Ryan in 2023 was tough.

“The conversation with Pat was probably the hardest I have ever had in my sporting career but let me point out I have great admiration for him as a manager and for having that conversation with me.

“Nowadays, I have put it behind me and still support the lads. 

A lot them are great friends of mine. I'd like nothing better than to see Cork win an All-Ireland with this group of players.” 

Fitting words from a class player. More importantly, it shows the quality of the man.

We wish him well in his latest rehabilitation.