The Poc Fada is hurling in its truest form. The competition is a throwback to the days of Cu Chulainn himself.
Before the sport was even a sport, the art began with the simple technique of who could puck the ball the furthest.
It is a test of brute strength and endurance. Competitors puck the ball up the mountain, and then back down again. Whoever can complete the course with the least attempts is crowned champion. Simple.
The sport itself was created in 1960. Two locals, An tAthair Pól Mac Seáin and Oliver Hodgers laid out the original course which was 5.12km in length. A year later a hurling match was arranged between Waterford and Kilkenny in order to promote the games in Louth.
At the post-match dinner legendary Kilkenny goalkeeper Ollie Walsh was challenged to come back and have a crack at the course they had created. Later that year the first ever ‘All-Ireland Poc Fada’ competition took place which was won by a Limerick man, Vincent Godfrey.
The competition was suspended for 10 years between 1970-1980 before being re-born in 1981 on a new course, on the same mountain.
The new course is 5 km in length and has four stages from beginning to end with three turning points, An Céide, Carn an Mhadaigh and An Gabhlan. An added challenge is the ravine on the last leg home which has seen many a hope of victory dashed.
Cillian Kiely hails from Kilcormac-Killoughrey. The young man has some serious hurling pedigree having already represented Offaly at senior level.
He recently collected his first senior Poc Fada All-Ireland win. What makes this achievement all the more special is that he equalled the course record of 48, following a three year hiatus from the competition.
Kiely is a forward by trade with club and county, this is strange considering that normally those who are strong in the Poc Fada tend to be goalkeepers.
So how does a forward get involved in a tournament that is predominately not meant for them?
“I am one of a few who take part that is an outfield player. I just kind of got into it through word of mouth back home. I would take long range frees for the club and a fella just said to go and do it, so I did.”
The Offaly forward made headlines early on as he became the first participant ever to win back-to-back u16 titles.
In 2011, Cillian equalled the existing record when he won the competition with 24 pucks but he went one better the following year with 22 pucks sealing a place in the record books for the youngster.
An amazing feat for any young man, but the record has since been broken. Broken by someone who is particularly close to the 22-year-old.
“I set the record twice, but my brother Cathal has actually broken it now. He won two u16’s after me.”
Two brothers, two back-to-back All-Ireland wins, two new records. You almost couldn’t write it. Surely this points to the competition being very much a family affair for the Kiely’s.
“It was never heard of before in our family and then I got into it and my brother followed suit and sure he’s coming along breaking my records now, he’ll be coming along to break my records in the seniors, he is a big chap, big striker of a ball.”
So how does the champion competitor prepare for a tournament as unique as the Poc Fada? Especially as an outfield player.
“It is kind of a natural thing. For a goalie, they are striking the ball long all the time so its easier for them. I kind of took the week leading up to it and practised striking long and trying to get my stance right.”
Kiely admits it was actually a rushed, final minute practice the Friday before the All-Ireland that probably led to him coming out on top.
“The turning point I think was the Friday night before the competition, I went up and done the course and I learnt a good bit about how to keep the ball high in the mountains especially. I honestly think that was the difference between me winning and losing.”
Is the commitment involved competing in the Poc Fada similar to that of a club player? Kiely explains that in his pursuit of winning the competition he has had to park club commitments at times.
“In fairness my manager at home has been very good about it, I told him two weeks before that I was going to ease off in training a small bit, just to avoid injury like and there was no problem with him at all.”
“It is hard though, because you are pulling away from the group and you miss a championship match nearly every year because of it. It’s hard but it is a very personal thing to me.” Kiely added.
The most iconic figure when it comes to the ‘Long Puck’ is former Tipperary ‘keeper, Brendan Cummins. The famed shot-stopper has won the competition a record nine times and still competes in the tournament today, well into his forties.
“Cummins is a fierce competitor. The lads are all stiff opposition, I remember in my second year competing at senior I was pucking behind Brendan and it was like trying to catch a plane, every puck was just massive.”
The Offaly man clearly has huge respect for his fellow competitor, citing him as the person one must look to if they want to succeed in this unique sport.
“You have to take it into consideration just how good Brendan Cummins has been,and even still he’s seriously competitive and will do anything to win. You have to admire him, I think his goal is to win 10 titles, he’s on nine now, so it is my job to keep him on nine (laughs).”
Does the competition get enough recognition among the public? Past winners included Cummins, Davy Fitzgerald, Ger Cunningham, Tommy Quaid; to name a few.
“People know about it like, but it’s only when you win or do well in it that people realise just how big a competition it is. Unless you are following it you wouldn’t realise.”
Offaly has had some dark days as a county recently with both hurling and football, the hurlers recently got relegated into the Christy Ring on the 20 year anniversary of their last All-Ireland. Does it dampen his desire to pull on the jersey?
“I don’t know, I have questioned that in the past, there is a lot of things going on I just think there needs to be a new structure put in place. It is hard to keep going when you are training as much as everyone and putting in the same effort, without the reward.”
So, who does Kiely think holds the upper hand in this weekends All-Ireland hurling final? Reigning champions Galway take on a resurgent Limerick side in a game that will round off a perfect summer of hurling. For many it is seen as a toss of a coin job, Kiely views it differently though.
“I think if Limerick show up and do what they are capable of doing then they are definitely going to win that match, definitely, I’ll go with Limerick.”
The Offaly man is tied now with Brendan Cummins for the course record, the goal going forward will be to get out on his own as the record holder, something he admits will be tough going.
Considering the records he has broke in the competition throughout his tenure we wouldn’t put it passed him doing it once more. Either that or his brother will.
