Hanahoe's faith in club man Gilroy

GAVIN CUMMISKEYasks about the secret of toppling Kerry from one of the few Dubs to have done it

A DRENCHED, dull Thursday evening in Dublin’s Temple Bar. Tony Hanahoe arrives into the Clarence Hotel’s Octagon bar having easily slalomed though a group of Scandinavian businessmen and multiple British hen parties cackling outside on the cobbled stones.

This is the logical meeting point; just yards around the corner from the family solicitors’ office on Parliament Street.

The initial unrecorded conversation about life in the troubled capital city is fascinating. But we want him to speak about the Kingdom. And the toppling thereof. This being a speciality of a few. Mickey Harte. Kevin Heffernan. Billy Morgan. Tony Hanahoe.

We don’t seek another retelling of the 1977 All-Ireland semi-final – the last time Dublin beat Kerry in the championship – or that Hanahoe was both bainisteoir and captain that day. No, we want his views on The Age of Gilroy.

Much Dublin success down the ages has been generated by the GAA cabal who base themselves in Marino on Dublin’s northside. St Vincent’s gave us Hanahoe, Heffernan. Serious men, serious about their football.

When Paul Caffrey’s reign crumbled after the Tyrone rout in the 2008 All-Ireland quarter-final, the wise men of the county board went into conclave, Heffo amongst them. Gilroy of St Vincent’s came out with the white smoke.

Having retained firm ties with his boyhood club, Hanahoe knows the Gilroy clan. “I know a lot about him. I know his father (Jackie) and his family very well. His father was a team-mate of mine. He is in the same club. He has an All-Ireland medal. He has been in the ring himself. He knows what’s required. I would have a lot of respect for him and I think he has done a very good job.”

And what of Gilroy’s system of play or is it as much a case of the quality of player at his disposal? “Well, they may not have reached full maturity yet, as a team, but, I mean, they are making steady progress. There is some room for improvement. They are a young team. They are still developing.

“Frankly, if there was one positive to be taken out of the semi-final against Donegal; they had the character to stay there and win the game playing with 14 men.”

Here follows the Kerry section of the interview. It is vague and insightful all at the same time.

“Dublin played Kerry in the league in Croke Park some months ago and it was a very tense, competitive, serious game. And no doubt the basis for that competition, that night, was September. Now they have both arrived where they wanted to be. No doubt that’s what motivated them that evening. There was very little in it. It could have gone either way.”

Dublin won that night, only to be punished for indiscipline in the league final against Cork.

Back in the day, the Dublin of Hanahoe and Heffernan seemed to understand how to shake the foundations of the Kingdom’s citadel. “I have no problem understanding what motivates Kerry. What you can rely on is that Kerry will be determined, motivated and ambitious.”

So, what is it that makes them tick? “I’d say I have a few ideas on that subject, yeah.” Silence descends like a veil, only punctuated by the laughter of our Scandinavian visitors at the adjacent table. Eventually, mercifully, he takes pity on the interviewer:

“Let’s put it this way: I don’t think Kerry will be lacking anything within the confines of their abilities to win this All-Ireland final. They won’t be lacking in preparation.”

We plough on, comparing Kerry, where Hanahoe owns a holiday home, and their football culture to Kilkenny hurling and New Zealand rugby. He suggests another comparison.

“Look at the way the Welsh like their rugby and how they understand their rugby and are motivated by their rugby. It is not a dissimilar situation. As far as I am concerned, Kerry can motivate themselves and they are justified in their position in the game. Anyone who wishes to dispose of them will have to work as hard and be motivated to get there.”

Can Dublin become that team?

“I’m quite happy with the Dublin team at the moment. I would feel quite comfortable going into the final with them at this stage. I think they are a good bunch of players. I think they showed their character in the semi-final. They came all the way back from falling off the ladder last year at the penultimate stage. It’s not a beauty contest. It’s 70 minutes and I have great confidence in this Dublin team to do well.

“I’m not saying they haven’t got a lot to learn – of course they have. Kerry have a very experienced team and I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion. But all kinds of interesting things could happen. It’s going to take 15 of them on the oars to win it.

Last words on the matter: “We are overdue. We are 16 years off the mark at the moment. It is nearly time.”