HE’LL PARTICIPATE IN a Connacht senior football final today but Roscommon’s Niall Daly is eager to point out the Munster characters that helped shape his football career.
Daly spent his college days kicking ball in UCC and had plenty contact with ex-Cork selector John Corcoran, who sadly passed away last January.
“John was a hero, a great man. Great character and great craic. We all held him in really high esteem.
“I remember hearing him last year, for Clonmel Commercials against Nemo on (RTÉ) radio, he was co-commentating and his analysis was excellent. It’s a huge sadness.
“His nephew Brian, I’d be friendly enough with. It’s a huge loss to the GAA community around Ireland. May he rest in peace.”
Rubbing shoulders with some elite footballers and coaches stood to the 25 year-old Daly in his football development.
“I worked under the likes of Billy Morgan and Dr Con Murphy. People like that had a huge influence on my career for four years.
“I was down there from 2009 to 2013, won a Sigerson, won a Cork county championship. I feel that had a huge influence on my career.
“I played with the likes of Peter Crowley, Johnny Buckley, Paul Geaney, Stephen O’Brien. Lads that are now household names around the country. Learning things off those players have helped me along the way.”
The Padraig Pearses man will be a key figure for Roscommon today. He was on the bench for the 2011 Connacht final but this decider feels more significant as he is now an integral part of the Roscommon team.
He’s not the only one flying the football flag for the family. His brother Lorcan was part of the Roscommon minor side that lost a Connacht semi-final recently to Galway, while other younger brothers Conor and Ronan – senior members in recent seasons – have departed to the USA for the summer.
“Ronan’s gone to Chicago and Conor’s gone to Boston. They’ve been in touch but I suppose they’re trying to take their minds off football a small bit.
“They’re doing a bit of football with teams out there but they’d be watching on. I got a text off them after the game the last day (against Sligo).
“I was disappointed they went, and the parents were a bit disappointed too, but I can understand it as well. It’s a great opportunity for both of them. You have to live a life outside of football as well and they’ll be back next year.”
Daly has been Stateside already himself this year but it was almost the scene of a Roscommon football disaster in Gaelic Park in May. They survived but only just.
“It was quite scary stuff now to be honest with you,” recalls Daly.
“They got a run on us. You could hear their supporters were getting louder and louder. There was even a short kickout that went a bit wrong for us.
“Only for Senan got a point with a few minutes to go, it gave us a two point cushion. We were in a bit of bother but thankfully we got through it.
“We’ve learned and really honed in to focus on the opposition. It was relief after and a bit of shock as well that it was that close.”
Daly is a PE and Maths teacher in Moate in Westmeath but lives just down the motorway in Ballinasloe. Residing in Galway means he’s fully aware of their football capabilities and today’s opponents triumphing against Mayo last month, didn’t surprise him.
“It was no shock to me that they won. With the players they have, it was no shock to us. With 20 minutes to go, it came down to hunger and desire, and Galway had it more than Mayo. That’s what won it out in the end.
“The last few years have been hugely frustrating. At the start of ever year, our aim is to get to a Connacht final. It’s kind of been a big build up, then we’d lose in the championship, we might get one win in a qualifier, and then go again.
“We’ve kind of let ourselves down at times as well. We’re in a final now and you’d feel we have to do it. It’s all about winning to us.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
