Donncha O’Dwyer holds onto possession. Photograph: John Sheridan
DONNCHA O’DWYER is likely to be the youngest member of Ennistymon Community School’s starting fifteen as they go in search of All-Ireland honours this weekend.
Kilshanny teenager Donncha is the only Fifth Year student anticipated to be included in the first fifteen for the North Clare school as they take on St Clare’s CS, Manorhamilton in Saturday’s All-Ireland PPS C final in Tuam.
Still the fact that it is likely to be the last time he will share the field with some of his teammates is flagged by O’Dwyer. “It’s a great bunch of guys, they are all great craic and we all get on very well in school, we’re all friends in school. The next one is the last time some of us will ever play together again so we’re hoping it will be a good one”.
Of their campaign to date, he remarked, “I’m looking forward to it, we’re on a great run this year so far, it’s great”. He said of his status as one of the side’s youngest members, “I suppose I would be, there’s one TY who is either coming on or starting, the rest would be sixth years, I’d be young for a fifth year”.
Losing the county final to St Joseph’s Spanish Point “was disappointing,” he recalled, “but we beat them in the first round of Munster so we’d be two even teams. We’re on a good run”.
He continued, “When we won the Munster semi-final and the talk turned to a final, people going to the final, getting gear and stuff like that brought a great buzz around the place”.
Kilshanny has not erupted with a sense of All-Ireland final fever just yet, he confirmed. “You’d hear it around the school a lot and you have people text you wishing you luck for games and stuff, a few of the Breckan’s lads would wish me well”.
Inter-county experience is already in his locker, Donncha was a Clare dual player at U14 and U15, he concentrated solely on hurling at U16 and is no longer with the county hurlers and is instead part of Joe Hayes’ Clare minor football squad.
O’Dwyer plays his club hurling with Ennistymon. He explaned, “they wouldn’t be going as well whereas St Breckan’s would be a higher standard like we are in Division 1 for my age whereas Ennistymon would be Division 3. All along, I would have nearly preferred hurling but in the last two years I’m leaning towards the football”.
Enjoyment is what led to this change in preference, he told The Clare Echo. “I started to enjoy it more, when you’re with a better club then you’re playing to a higher standard and a higher level of football so you’ve better chances with the development squads and stuff like that, you are happier when you’re winning”.
Analysis and preparation done by joint manager Lawrence Healy has been a big asset to Ennistymon’s cause, Donncha believed. The St Breckan’s clubman will be in the middle of the park for the throw-in on Saturday, “I’m really looking forward to the game, it will be a great occasion”.
