An old style midfielder
Despite playing for Dublin for over four years and winning an All-Ireland title in 2011, Eamon Fennell feels more comfortable watching the Dubs from the comfy seats rather than Hill 16.
He wouldn’t mind mixing with his fellow ‘Jackeens,’ but as he says himself, he doubts his body could handle it.
The St Vincents clubman possibly could still feature for Jim Gavin’s side, but with the capital in the middle of an incredible burst of talent, especially at midfield, Fennell is content to enjoy life as spectator.
Ahead of yet another Leinster final for his native county we caught up with the midfielder and asked him his thoughts on Westmeath, superstitions in the Dublin dressing room and who’s better, Diarmuid Connolly or Michael Murphy?
Are weeks of finals like Leinster and All-Ireland’s hard when you’re a former player?
You definitely miss it it. As a player I always wanted to be playing in finals and coming up to weekends like this one or in September when you get to walk out with the Artane band it just builds the excitement within you. It makes a bit more special with the little things that separate it from any other game.
At the end of your career – and I notice it more now that I’ve finished up – you want to have x amount of medals to look back on. I’d love more than anything to be playing, but it’s just unfortunate that I’m not.
What’s your routine as a former player for days like Sunday?
I’m doing a bit of corporate stuff beforehand in Jury’s but I was always a fan before I started playing with Dublin, and now having been there you definitely do see things a bit differently. I love watching Dublin and I like to meet the lads beforehand.
I’ll probably meet a few of the lads this week but I won’t be asking them about the game, but you can read where their heads are at and you get a vibe off them.
I’m in the comfy seats, I’m not in the Hill. I’d have to get the orthotics in my shoes if I’m going to the Hill, my joints wouldn’t stand it!
How impressive was the Westmeath comeback against Meath?
Westmeath will pose probably the most different challenge to Dublin compared to any other side in Leinster. Technically they won’t have the strength in depth, but they they are good tough lads with great spirit and they won’t give up. Just because you are the better team on paper, the result doesn’t always match that and Westmeath can cause an upset if Dublin aren’t ready for a battle.
With St Vincents we’ve faced St Lomans and Garrycastle in the Leinster championship and they kept coming back at us even when we had gained big leads. They like the rough and tumble too and I think Sunday will be a good game.
How important will players like Kieran Martin and Ger Egan be?
I think it’s interesting that Dublin didn’t put that much pressure on Kildare’s kickout and maybe that’s an area that Westmeath might look at. Kildare used the short kick out’s well because Dublin will win a lot of primary possession around the middle. Westmeath need to break the ball and break it smart. Breaking good instead of breaking bad.
Who’s better? Diarmuid Connolly or Michael Murphy?
I’ve seen Diarmuid do things on a football pitch that no one could do and I’ve marked Michael Murphy at International Rules training. I was unlucky enough to to mark him in training and he is a handful. I think what Diarmuid offers is even if you play him from number two upto 15 you will still get a class performance from him.
They are both crucial players and both county’s need both of them to perform at their best. Having seen more of Diarmuid I just think he’s the best footballer in Ireland at the moment.
Are you surprised Alan Brogan has given it one last season?
I think having someone like Alan has been vital to Jim and I think it’s probably why he brought Jason Sherlock in this year as well. Alan hasn’t shied away from the fact that he’ll be retiring this year. Jim’s going to need players like Alan to talk to the younger guys and for Ciaran Kilkenny to be around Alan and talk to him will bring him on massively.
Alan to me has been Dublin’s best performer of the last number of years. He puts in a solid consistent performance every time and that’s what makes a great player. We know how good the younger Dublin players are but it”s doing it every single day, that’s the big challenge.
What kind of boots will players be wearing this Sunday
I have enough superstitions coming into games but for me Croker was always good to take a stud. Everyone is moving away from blades because of the various knee injuries and cruciates so I think for Sunday everyone will be on studs.
What were your superstitions
I always had to carry a bottle of water onto the pitch and I always liked walking onto the pitch beforehand or at half time. Playing Croke Park was a magical thing. If you ran out you couldn’t take it all in so I used to walk out and look around for five seconds and gather where I am and enjoy it and then do my thing.
Other lads used to like to be alone to listen to some awful types of music and Michael Darragh McAuley would be in that bracket.
Bernard Brogan likes to do his own separate warm up with his headphones on. Everyone has their own quirks and superstitions and you just let them off.
