Brennan back following in his father's footsteps

Leinster Final: Ian O'Riordan talks to Laois's Barry Brennan, who will maintain a family tradition against Dublin on Sunday

After being sidelined from football for almost two years with a back injury, Barry Brennan's return to the Laois team has been both instrumental and beautifully timed.

It first proved instrumental as Brennan's four points from play helped Laois produce the most improved performance of the summer to beat Kildare in the semi-final.

And now it has proven beautifully timed, as Sunday's Leinster final against Dublin comes exactly 20 years after his father, Willie Brennan, wore the same jersey against the same opposition at the same stage of the championship.

It's one of those days the GAA takes special pride in.

Given he is just 22 years of age, Brennan's career is still in its early phase, though it was suddenly stalled two years ago when he was troubled with lower-back pain as Laois made their championship exit against Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Within a couple of weeks he was unable to play any football whatsoever, and the problem only came right in the weeks before the Kildare match.

"It was very frustrating," says Brennan. "Nothing seemed to be working for me. I was going all over the country. I'd be given something to do, and I'd do it to the letter. And still it didn't work.

"It finally started to come right about two months ago, and has gone fantastically well since then. So to miss all of last year was hard, and just reminded me that you have to take your opportunities when they come. Thankfully, Mick O'Dwyer never closed the door on me. I was delighted to get the chance to prove myself again."

As it turned out, the solution to his back injury was found right under his nose. Through his work as a fitness instructor in Greenbank Centre at the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow town he came in contact with Ria Breen. She'd already helped his team-mates Brian McDonald and Joe Higgins get over injuries, and she designed a rehabilitation programme especially for Brennan.

"I've just stuck with that," he explains, "and it's worked wonders. I've done a lot of strengthening of the core area around my back and stomach. I know I was going well at training coming up to the Kildare match, but I still felt it would take a brave manager to bring me back in. But that's the kind of manager Micko is.

"And I was delighted with my performance. I was apprehensive at the start but the first ball went well for me, and the first kick I made went over."

Brennan had last kicked a point in Croke Park in the 2003 Leinster final, when he appeared as a second-half substitute and helped Laois to a three-point win over Kildare. After beating the same team three weeks ago, he wasn't long being reminded that the next time he'd play in Croke Park he'd be weighed down by nostalgia.

Willie Brennan played at centre forward in the 1985 final against Dublin, the last provincial final meeting between the counties, and the game best remembered as the one where Laois simply couldn't score. They ended up losing 0-10 to 0-4, the lowest score in a Leinster final since Laois put up 0-3 against Meath back in 1951. The links between father and son couldn't be better staged.

"Yeah, I've been made aware of that alright," he says wryly. "It's some coincidence. I suppose things didn't go to plan for him that day, so hopefully I can make amends. I think if we play like we did the last day we've a good chance.

"I don't know much about the 1985 game. Laois had all the footballers then, but things just didn't click for them. But the father's delighted for me now, obviously. He's been very positive all along. He senses the attitude is good."

Brennan single-handedly equalled the 1985 Laois total in the semi-final, where his team put 0-21 past Kildare. He admits that was one of those games where everything clicked, but knows things will be entirely different against Dublin.

"Confidence just soared as the Kildare game went on, and there was no let-up. It's going to be a lot tougher against Dublin, and we know we're going to have to work harder for every score. But these are the challenges you want.

"Fitness-wise I think we've stepped up from 2003. The spirit is so good in the team - it's like a family atmosphere. And, of course, Micko's enthusiasm is just infectious.

"You never hear the man come out with a negative comment about anything. We go out there believing we can beat anyone because of his vibe and his aura."