All roads lead to Padraig Pearses GAA Club this weekend, for the eagerly anticipated Melbourne Sevens tournament, which is generally considered to be the peak of the Australian GAA calendar.
Wexford hurler Paudie Foley has been playing with Sydney-based club Craobh Padraig for the last two years and he says that since Christmas, they’ve been looking towards this Sunday’s show-piece event.
From all over the country, hurling, camogie and ladies and men’s football teams alike will set off for Melbourne, with a number of high profile inter-county players in the mix.
From a hurling perspective, Paudie Foley will be joined on the Craobh Padraig team by the likes of Kilkenny stars Conor Browne and Richie Leahy.
Former Laois full back Sean Downey is also on Craobh Padraig’s panel of 14 while the likes of Clare’s Niall Deasy (Cormac McAnallens) is among the other star names who will be in action Down Under.
From a football side of things, Longford forward Rian Brady (Clan na Gael), Westmeath Tailteann Cup winner Sam Duncan (Penrith Gaels) and Kerry All-Ireland winner Jack Barry (Cormac McAnallens) are expected to be in action, as is former Tipperary player Liam Casey (Clan na Gael)
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“It’s a lot of people’s highlight of the year down here,” Leinster championship winner with Wexford in 2019 Paudie Foley tells SportsJOE.
“After Christmas, a lot of people try get back into a bit of shape and aim for it.
“I remember last year, I had just arrived and people were hyping it up big time and you’re thinking ‘jesus it’s just a tournament,’ but I went down there last year and it was unbelievable.”
“Having played in America for a summer, I would say the standard is up there with America.
“All of the matches are going on in the different pitches and in the centre is this big party tent.
“It’s a bit mad and it goes on all day, with everyone in their club singlets, and it’s just a very cool atmosphere.
“Even the fact that your men’s and women’s teams are all together, it’s probably something you wouldn’t get at home,” says Foley.
Having arrived Down Under last year, hurling wasn’t at the forefront of Foley’s mind but he quickly joined the club and hasn’t looked back.
They have 50 to 60 players who train twice a week, with only 14 getting selected to play this weekend.
“When I first got out here, hurling was the last thing on my mind but now that you’re here over a year, you would miss it a small bit and even socially, it’s great, meeting a few lads, playing with lads you became friendly with in college, organising a night out with the team and that kind of thing.
“But it’s taken very seriously too, and everyone wants to win the Melbourne Sevens.”
The travel-bug has taken Foley out of the inter-county bubble for the last two years but he came home to play with his club Crossabeg/Ballymurn last year and you can’t take the Wexford out of the man – he doesn’t want to miss the Fleadh Cheoil as it takes place in his home county this summer.
The club championship isn’t far from his mind either, though he says he has missed too much of the early-season slog to hurl for Wexford.
“Who knows about July or August. I’ve a wedding that I want to go to in August and the Fleadh Cheoil is on in Wexford too. You couldn’t miss that.”
“Maybe for my club, later on in the year, that’s what I’d be looking towards, being around for that.
“But if I was to play inter-county, you would want to be back in January at least. It’s not a case that you could just walk home and fit straight back in, it’s definitely a different level now.
“So Jesus I doubt it this year,” he says of playing for Wexford.
Foley says that ever since going on a J1 in the summer of 2017, he’s been bitten by the travel-bug and he’s enjoyed the freedom it brings.
“When you’re in an inter-county set-up, your life is very structured.
“You work, you get yourself ready during the day to train or for a gym session. And then your weekend is taken up by either training or a game.
“That’s how it is.
“When you’re in it, the structure is unreal. And I enjoyed that.
“But when I went on a J1 in 2017, I got a taste for a bit of travelling and what was outside that bubble so that made me feel like I wouldn’t mind doing a bit more at a different stage.”
“And I feel like now is my chance to do that but down the line, who knows what I’ll do. I’ll play it by ear and see.”
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