AFTER DEFENDING ALL-Ireland club football champions St. Vincent’s survived a second-half fightback from Garrycastle to book their spot in the AIB Leinster senior club final, Ger Brennan admitted his side were ‘lucky’.
Brennan, who equalled his Dublin team-mate’s points total of 0-2, said the back-to-back Dublin champions will have to be much better in the provincial decider.
“I hope [we'll be better]. We’ll know in three weeks’ time against Rhode. We’re certainly lucky. I don’t know how many times you can be lucky in senior football but we’re just relieved to have got out of there and we’re still in the competition.”
The defender also admitted that he and Connolly were feeling the effect of back-to-back successful club campaigns and a run to an All-Ireland SFC final and semi-final in the last two seasons.
“In terms of the two injuries I’ve had, it’s more chronic fatigue in terms of high intensity training all year round without getting a break.
“I think myself and Diarmuid were going, I don’t know how long, maybe 36 months and Diarmuid was the one who was playing.
“I was doing my bit of rehab in the background though I was still working hard on trying to get back in. Certainly it can take its toll.
“I suppose you really have to compartmentalise your thinking and focus in on each challenge as it comes, don’t get caught up in the bigger picture which can be overpowering in terms of your mental energy.
“I think the GAA really do have the look at the fixture list in terms of having everything in one calendar year. I think it is a bit of a pain in the back side as a player.
“I know the GAA will probably argue in terms of trying to promote the game over the full 12 months because there’s a lot of competition with rugby and soccer and that’s fine but I think they need to start taking players’ bodies into account as well.”
Though the north Dublin side will go into the Leinster final as heavy favourites, Brennan knows better than taking Offaly champions Rhode for granted.
“I’ve seen them over the last couple of years alright from watching the Leinster club championship games.
“They’re a very strong team, very successful as well. I’m not sure of the result, other than that they won.
“I think we have a bit of work to do on ourselves over the next couple of weeks in terms of our effort and our performance and then we’ll focus on Rhode and look at their strengths and see how we can curb them.”
