Brennan aims to do more than take part

Player profilesHe used to hide his hurl outside the gate of his house rather than bring it to school. He didn't come off the conveyor belt of Kilkenny's successful minors. But the most surprising thing about Eddie Brennan is that he's not even sure who christened him "Fast Eddie".

He thinks it was the Dublin physio Alan Kelly (aka The Great AK), yet that hardly matters now. At 27, Brennan is widely known as one of the fastest hurling forwards in the country, and one of the most dangerous as well.

He's drifted in and out of form somewhat since joining the senior set-up six years ago, yet that hardly matters now either. He's nailed down his place at right half forward this summer - a change from the full forward line - and while his scoring has been a little sparse (0-4 from four games) he'll clearly be a marked man in Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final against Cork.

"I don't mind what I score," says Brennan, "as long as the results are good. And I'm just living the dream still, just another year. It's gets a little harder as you get older, but maybe more enjoyable too. You have to make the most of it. It's all about making hay when the sun shines.

"Sometimes you do take it for granted. But I feel blessed to be here again. But I know what it's all about as well. Ger Loughane says the biggest cliche in sport is taking part. Winning is what it's all about. Maybe when you're a young lad the taking part is what matters. But you ask anyone from the two teams on Sunday what they want and they'll tell you pretty quick. It's all about winning. Winner takes all."

Going back to his own youth, Brennan grew up in the hurling stronghold of Ballycallan, but didn't automatically transfer to a love of the game. That developed over time.

"Eventually I started bringing the hurl to school, aged seven or eight. Before that I would bring it out to the gate, and hide it. I just didn't have the time. The brother was more into it. But I was a real out-in-the-garden hurler more than anything else.

"I remember the 1990 final (which Cork won), going out to the garden, and I'd be John Fitzgibbon, banging in goals. I went out at half-time, and banged the ball about.

"Eventually it happens. But it shows you can't be forced into it. You'll follow your heart in the end, because it did just grow on me. And still is."

Although he won a minor hurling title with the club, he never played minor for Kilkenny: "I did start to get serious in my Leaving Cert year in St Kieran's, and we were unbeaten with the minor club team that year. I played under-21 alright, but the big break was with Ken Hogan and the Garda College in 1999. I just got going from there."

Originally based at Tallaght Garda Station, he's been posted in Portlaoise since the start of the year and that's made it a little easier to get into a training routine. His game has peaked again this summer, even if he doesn't have the goals to show for it. He's catching more ball and working perfectly in tandem with Henry Shefflin.

"Catching is something I've just worked on, and I've concentrated on it a little more. But I've missed a good few balls as well. It was just one aspect of my game that was weak.

"I'm enjoying where I'm playing, but I'd enjoy playing anywhere. It's all about doing a job for the team. It's a change of scenery and maybe you're a little more involved out on the wing. You can get isolated sometimes at full forward, waiting for ball to come in, and that makes you a little bit more nervous.

"But there's pressure everywhere. It all depends on how you let it get to you. And, there's a longer distance to go to the goal. But I do feel more involved, with puck outs and that landing in around my area. So you can get stuck into it straight away. But you can only play it out as it unfolds in front of you.

"If you have the run of pace, you know that no backs like you running at them, and I suppose one of the strengths I have is that I'm a little bit faster than the rest."

Last word goes to Cork: "They demand total concentration. Ten years ago if you said a goalkeeper would apply so much pressure, you'd probably laugh. But Donal Óg Cusack is a phenomenon for Cork. He's so accurate he can pick a player out. They have system and they play it very well. He has massive ability and can adapt his game as well. But we're still hopeful anyway. It's a two-horse race, after all."

Brennan Facts

Position: Right-half forward.

Club: Graigue Ballycallan.

Honours: 3 All-Ireland SHC; 1 All-Ireland under-21 HC; 4 National League; 6 Leinster SHC; 1 Railway Cup; 1 All Star.