If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
Lusmagh coach Paul Cleary is fan of the old adage as he hopes to lead the Offaly side to Leinster glory this Saturday in the re-fixed AIB Leinster junior club hurling final against Glenmore.
The young Birr man is one of a number of emerging coaches who are still playing with their own clubs, but decided to take on a managerial role while still in their 20s.
The 29-year-old led the club to county intermediate success before Christmas, and is hoping his side can build on the promise of last year to make a big impression in 2016.
Cleary doesn’t think there is any issue with being just a few years older than most of the youthful Lusmagh squad, but did find it challenging being a player-manager with two different clubs.
“It’s a long year and I was still hurling with Birr myself so I had to try and mix the two of them as best I could. I was with Lusmagh in 2014 but I wasn’t in the manager’s role as such and it has been something new and enjoyable.”
“I would see being being an active player as an advantage with the lads. I think the lads with me have just recently retired too and it is a big help when chatting to the squad and getting ideas across to them.”
“As I get a bit older it is something I’d be hope to get into a bit more.”
Lusmagh GAA's new Kit Van has just arrived in time for the Leinster Final! pic.twitter.com/sMQzHu5wvW
— Lusmagh GAA (@LusmaghGAA) January 14, 2016
Once the Leinster campaign is over, Cleary will also face a dilemma as Lusmagh face into another year at senior, and are sure to come across his own club Birr at some stage in league or championship. He admits that he isn’t sure how he will manage the unique situation.
“I’ve been asked that a few times now, it’s the million-dollar question really isn’t it. It’s hard to answer because I’m recovering from injury, I broke my leg in 3 places in August so I don’t even know if I can play hurling this year. I’m throwing myself into the Leinster campaign and maybe after next Saturday I’ll think about it.”
The game was initially scheduled in December but was postponed due to the inclement weather that swept the country in the 10 days or so before Christmas.
Lusmagh’s last game was the semi final win over Trumera on the 22nd of November, and it will be almost two months since their last game when they line out in O’Connnor Park Tullamore this Saturday at 2pm.
Cleary admits the extended break has been far from ideal.
“We gave the lads two weeks off after the game was postponed and we came back training then St Stephen’s morning. We’ve done a bit since then but the weather has made it a major challenge. We’ve done ok thanks to other clubs and their facilities and helping us out.”
A dry spot to train is hard to find in Lusmagh this past month as we prepare for the @AIB_GAA Leinster Jnr final!! pic.twitter.com/OsKN88Twfs
— Lusmagh GAA (@LusmaghGAA) January 10, 2016
The Offaly intermediate championship is one of the toughest around, and Cleary feels that it prepared his side perfectly for their provincial quest. He feels the semi-final win over Trumera was a game that allowed his side show their toughest qualities to emerge with a 3-15 to 2-8 win.
“Trumera is a small area  but they are so experienced and we knew it was going to be so tough for us. It was physical and it was a style of hurling that we hadn’t faced before and to get through it was great.. As the scoreline suggests we won fairly well, which was immensely pleasing to everyone.”
The wait is over for @LusmaghGAA. Their rescheduled Leinster Final v @GlenmoreGAA takes place this Sat. #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/3I2wFvq85J
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) January 14, 2016
The midlanders are hoping to be able to call on two players who missed much of their Leinster campaign, Alan Kelly due to a broken jaw, and David Moran, who is recovering from knee surgery for Saturday’s game, but Cleary is unsure if they will be able to play any role with a late decision made on their fitness.
Glenmore come in as favourites to the game just by virtue of their status as Kilkenny champions, and a team that contains two All-Stars in Eoin Murphy and Ger Aylward.
Cleary however doesn’t think his side should waste energy on worrying about their opponents too much.
“Glenmore have some established lads but they are young too and haven’t been here before and we’re not too worried in sense. Tullamore should help in terms of the venue, it’s wide and we should both be able to play some decent hurling. Â we go in expecting to win, and we go in confident.”
