Rabbitte hungry for more success

Hurling, like most sports nowadays, is a young man's game. Those who return from the winter after a 30th birthday are considered historical artefacts that should be confined to the GAA museum. Certainly not wheeled out on to the pitch.

Back in 2001, Joe Rabbitte was being described as a veteran, but four years on he is still prime-time copy. More pertinently, he is still producing the goods.

We went to the Club Player of the Year awards last week to try and discover the big man's motivation. Obviously, the lure of a fourth All-Ireland club title, but what keeps the clock ticking?

We talked first to the young James Stephens sharpshooter Eoin Larkin, who will be coming to a screen near you this summer, as part of the Brian Cody Show. Then a chat with Colm Parkinson.

After that everyone started into lunch. Unfortunately, mid-grub, the radio boys started into him so the food was pushed to one side and the red rec/stop button flicked on.

"It's good to be back in it coming on 35," he grins at the fresh-faced journalists (rare when a player is older than all those asking the questions).

"Nice to be coming back with a bunch of young guys that I saw playing under-10s you know? A different bunch of lads as well. I'll be looking forward to the day."

One thing that must be broached, albeit subtly, is the hunger aspect. Surely a team who have already tasted success will not be as desperate to win? "Whether you are there for your first time or your fifth time, an All-Ireland is there to be won so there is a certain amount of nerves in it.

"If you haven't got nerves there is something wrong. We'll do the same thing as we did other times anyway."

Scratch beneath the surface and plenty of incentives are evident. Galway hurling folk have not forgotten the beating dished out by Kilkenny last year. Diarmuid Cloonan was there that day but suspension means he can't seek retribution.

"Diarmuid Cloonan was the only one who stood up last year against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland campaign. It's a big blow to us. We will have to work around it and build the team around that."

In short, Cloonan's team-mates owe him a performance that fits the occasion.

We move on to the opposition. There have been so many foes, so many markers, so many young guns looking to scalp the great Joe Rabbitte through the years that he doesn't get overly excited anymore. They either have it or they don't. He knows all about Peter Barry but the rest are, well, Kilkenny hurlers tend to have the right stuff.

And then comes the media savvy. An ability to deflect the pressure and attention away from the clubs' proud history.

"People around Athenry have more or less said the team is gone. I suppose it's nearly a surprise to be there again because a couple of us now are long in the tooth. They're expecting us to be gone by now. There is a bit of excitement again for an All-Ireland final. As it should be."

That question pops up again: why keep coming back? The love of the club seems to be the answer.

"When you are with your club you are with a bunch of guys who are born and bred together. All out of the one cat as we would say down our way."