Full-back Geraghty away from the forward grind
Sheila Geraghty checks over her brother, Brian after he came away injured during Tullamore's win over Navan in the AIB All-Ireland Junior Cup Final in Dubarry Park, Athlone. Picture: www.JeffHarvey.ie
Despite being just 21 years old, Tullamore Brian Geraghty has a wealth of experience at the highest level in both rugby and Gaelic Football.
An All Ireland Junior Cup winner with Tullamore in 2009, Geraghty has also featured in the championship for Offaly Senior Footballers when he played two games in 2010.
In that final in 2009, Geraghty was a very young second row but he has now moved from the ground and pound of the pack to the relative serenity of the full-back spot where he skills as a midfielder in Gaelic Football are being put to good use.
Geraghty agrees it is a bit of a change but he is not worried in which position he plays as he believes it is just important to be part of the team.
“It’s a bit of a change up all right. The last one I didn’t get through the full day when I stepped into a hole in Dubarry Park but still it was great to be part of the panel. It’s always good to be part of a winning team.”
He added that the forwards took some umbrage when he left to join the backs, but he was adamant that he learned a lot from his days in the pack.
“They might have at first but I can outrun them if it comes down to it. I’ll always have that cut of ignorance in me I learned from the likes of Donal Milne and players like that. It is a change of scenery in the back-line and not having to stick your head up some of the bigger boys arses.”
The All Ireland Final in 2009 was not the Durrow man has played for Tullamore and he is hoping to add to his haul of winners medals this Saturday.
“I’ve played a couple of them on and off the last couple of season. It’s always good.The cup is a great competition. Tullamore seem to have a good record in the cups and hopefully we’ll have that killer edge on Saturday because that’s going to be the big one. We’ve a point to prove after losing the Towns Cup Final last year.”
Tullamore have developed a reputation as cup specialists in recent years and Geraghty believes that in the cups the side have proved better able to pull out wins.
“In the league the last few years we’ve been almost there but we haven’t been able to keep the consistency going but in the cups we seem to be able to grind out wins even when we’re put to it.”
While there are there some more experienced players on the Tullamore team in their late 20s and 30s, a quick look through the team list shows are large number of players in their early 20s and Brian Geraghty noted that it was a help to have a cohort of players who had come through the ranks together.
“It’s always good when you can get a bunch of lads together. The last few years there’s lads who’ve played Under 18 and Under 20 together and we looked up to the older players. They are there to help us come through as well. There’s a great sense of community among the team. Everyone has each other’s back and that’s a primary concern on the field.
One difficulty all teams endure this time of year is knowing which conditions to prepare for. While Tullamore would like to play an expansive game, a wet few days would make that gameplan far more difficult to implement. Brian Geraghty believes the team will be prepared no matter what the weather and under-foot conditions.
“It’s hard at this time of year you just have to keep the two pairs of boots in the bag. You never know what kind of surface you are playing on. The conditions could be as bad as the semi-final against Westport. You never know what way the game is going to progress.”
The full-back has missed some time with a knee injury and while he did not play in the semi-final against Westport, he is hoping to be good to go this Saturday.
“There was a great atmosphere for the semi-final. I didn’t get to play a part in it but hopefully I’ll be alright for the Cup Final. It’s coming good. It’s good to be back training. I was getting bored doing nothing. Keeping the rehab going. It’s feeling good now.”
That injury kept him on the sidelines of both rugby and GAA pitches in recent weeks but the young full-back is hoping the rugby season finishes well for him and his team-mates.
“My focus now is fully on the rugby. I was involved with the Siggerson down in NUIG but unfortunately when I hurt my knee I had to pull out of that but it’s almost a blessing in a way now because I can solely concentrate on the rugby and finish the season well hopefully.”
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Weather for Tullamore
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
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