By Brendan McTaggart
A team with a story. We all know of teams that have the fairy tale behind them, but Naomh Éanna…..incredible. Tonight, they prepare for what they hope to be their finest hour. From the darkest days of the troubles, they’re heading to the big lights of Croke Park.
The news reports and column inches have schooled us all. We all had an idea or an inkling of what they’ve had to endure, but when you hear it from the mouths of those closest and involved, it hits home a bit more. Defiance in the face of the most severe adversity. A club with a strong heart and an undeniable spirit.
On the pitch, they’ve had the potential for a number of years. The hard work has been put in through the age groups and the current crop of senior talent is down to a mountain of work done on the Hightown Road. I can remember watching them in the 2016 championship against my own club, Dunloy in the semi-final. They were fancied for the championship then and on another day, they could have sailed past the Cuchullains by 10 points. As it was, Dunloy edged past them in extra time but it’s matches like these that have built the character and inner belief. A young squad who have come close to realising their potential, it wasn’t their time. They’ve been building towards this run where they’ve broken free from the shackles of being the ‘nearly men,’ they have grown and learned to ‘Be Big.’ A quite brilliant call that has galvanised the generations of the Glengormley club.
Gerry Devlin, RIP.
Looking forward, just like the club have done through their own personal years of hardship, Croke Park. All-Ireland final. Any member of the Naomh Éanna club would be forgiven for nipping themselves to make sure they aren’t sleeping. They are living the dream.
To throw another story into the mix, the club All-Ireland’s were extended to Intermediate and Junior by a Kilcummin man, the then GAA president Sean Kelly. One of the greatest moves ever made in the history of the GAA and yes, that may be a huge statement but it’s given us days like tomorrow to look forward too. It’s given even the smallest of clubs the chance to dream big.
I’ve said before, it’s the GAA’s Theatre of Dreams but it can also be a cruel mistress. Players can thrive and basque in the glory of playing in one of the finest stadiums on the planet or they can cower, go into their shell and be found wanting. I just can’t see that happening to Naomh Éanna tomorrow. They’re on the brink of completing their intermediate journey and prepare for who knows what else? The youth of the Glengormley club have heroes to idolise. Joe Maskey, a quiet unassuming giant of the game. Adored by the youngsters of the Hightown Road club but still looks like he can’t quite believe what’s happening him. A man capable of hitting a goal from close to 60 yards out and has his own personal fan club. James McAuley, a captain and leader of men but a tenacious defender who leads by example. Ruairi Scott, a player who oozes class. Odhran Eastwood, a player who can create from nothing. Make the impossible, possible. The Healy brothers, Kristian and Peter have been pivotal with their all-round game while the pace of Conor McAuley and Conan Lyttle breaking from deep and the willingness to run the length of the pitch has been tiring just to watch. Relentless. I could go through the whole Naomh Éanna team, I probably should. To leave any of them out when purring about their class would be an injustice.
I watched a match last weekend in the superbly run Ulster U21 club football tournament between St Brigid’s and Carryduff, describing it as possibly the greatest game of football I’ve ever witnessed. Football how we all want it to be played and when looking at Naomh Éanna, they go about their business the same way. They’ve drawn on plaudits from all corners for their style of play. Less structured in attack, yet there’s a feeling of you know it’s coming. Unstructured brilliance. The blistering speed, the unorthodox nature makes them brilliant to watch but they have the capability to change their game depending on the circumstances.
They’re a team who continue to progress. They’ve shown no signs of plateauing with their development which is scary fact for the rest of the county. With each passing 60 minutes, they’ve come closer to realising their potential. Tomorrow could be the time they reach their peak. I get the feeling Croke Park will bring the best out of this crop of Naomh Éanna players.
They may need it.
What better way to potentially win an All-Ireland than to beat a team from the Kingdom? It’s almost like the perfect ending to the perfect season. Naomh Éanna will need to concoct the perfect storm though. For all their brilliance in Ulster and against An Spidéal in the semi-final, they will need to dig deep one more time. All-Ireland medals aren’t given away, they’re earned the hard way and Kilcummin will throw everything at them to deny Naomh Éanna the last medal for their collection.
Will the Kingdom side deny Naomh Éanna’s dream?
That remains to be seen. To put my neck on the line, if I were a betting man and I’ve been known to place the odd each way bet, I’d place my pound note on the Glengormley side. I just don’t see the journey ending.
Onwards to Croke Park.