Cian Johnson is the hottest ticket in Offaly.
The talented youngster has been lording it for his school, his club and his county over the last two years. He kicked 0-6 from play in the county’s draw with Dublin in an O’Byrne Cup game recently.
Cian Johnson is only 18. He goes to school every day. He’ll be sitting his Leaving Certificate exams this June. He is only a teenager.
His Faithful manager Stephen Wallace had some words of advice for his budding star this week. Real talk, real advice.
“I’ve seen many young talents lose the run of themselves, they go mad, they start Âgetting attention from members of the opposite sex and they start getting bought pints in pubs and they come to nothing. We’ve got to mind Cian Johnson,” said the bainisteoir to the IrishSun.
Cian Johnson ain't letting up https://t.co/F2QIVzAGgT
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 4, 2018
Because the Kerry native has seen it happen before. Anybody with their finger on the GAA pulse has seen it happen before.
Exciting talents believe the hype. They think they’ve made it already. They think it can’t get any better than this. They get carried away with themselves.
Because they’re hearing all sorts.
“You’re flying it.” “You have what it takes.”
Recently retired Kilkenny legend Michael Fennelly went through a similar period in his early days in the black and amber.
“I would have even read media transcripts, more local stuff, and it would have been saying Michael Fennelly is one to watch out for in midfield,” he told us yesterday.
Worth a debate https://t.co/L49sYxLHGk
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 11, 2018
“You’re thinking, great, people are saying this, that this will happen for me. And you’re probably waiting for it to happen instead of actually making it happen. That’s something too psychologically that I would be very conscious of with younger players,” said Fennelly.
It got us thinking, what are the deadly sins that can derail the potential star.
Sin: Pints
Penance:
You’ll be left on the sideline. You won’t be brought on until 20 minutes into the game when the team is taking a penalty without you.
Remedy :
Think about the game.
Sin: Women
Penance:
It’s Leaving Cert results night. You’re rearing for a belting night on the town. Training called for 9.00. Training goes on for two hours. You don’t have time to dicky yourself up right. Ultimate disaster.
Remedy:
Think about the game.
Sin: Cigarettes
Penance:
You start the game, to your own surprise. Ten minutes in and the ball hasn’t come near you. There was nothing you could do, but you get whipped off after ten minutes. This is the worst because it’s embarrassing and people think it was just because you were playing bad.
“You were struggling with your fitness,” he says.
Remedy:
Think about the game.
Sin: County gear at club games
Penance:
They don’t even hand you a jersey. The manager doesn’t even look at you. He doesn’t even tell you why. Silence is a killer.
Remedy:
Think about the game.
Sin: Does his own thing in the warm-up
Penance:
The managers asks you can another player use your gloves/hurl. Ouch.
Remedy:
Think about the game.
Sin: Flashy boots
Penance:
You hit 10/10 the last day. Your the county’s number-one free-taker. The manager announces your other corner forward as the close-in free-taker and the centre back is coming up for the long ones.
Remedy:
Think about the game.
Sin: Earring
Penance:
The team is bigger than one man. They’re coasting in the championship quarter final and you don’t even make it off the bench.
“Your head wasn’t in the game,” he says.
