Claffey hails impact of young guns in moates leinster success
The influx of talented young players was a crucial ingredient in Moate All Whites’ Leinster final win last Sunday - but long serving player Alan Claffey is better placed than most to appreciate the significance of the success.
Alan joined the Moate All Whites senior panel just a year after the club won the Westmeath SFC title in 1997.
“Yeah, it’s been a long time coming. I joined the panel in 1998, the year after we won the senior championship. I thought it was going to be coming every year, but no. We needed a boost of young lads coming through ... you know, the last two minor teams (which won division one county titles in 2012 and 2013), things have picked up since,” said Alan in the immediate aftermath of Moate’s Leinster club JFC final over Straffan.
“All the players put their shoulder to the wheel this year and rowed in behind Paul (Conway), Gerry (Heavin) and the lads and the result is out there today.”
The fact that Straffan were seen as strong favourites only served to give Moate extra motivation, Alan admitted.
“Everyone was writing us off. We said it in training on Friday night: ‘we’re sick of hearing about Straffan and everyone writing them up.’ They hadn’t come up against anyone of our speed and fitness all year and we knew that,” he said.
“We knew if we kept it tight early on - they’re very quick starters - it would be important. We got a great start, went five points in front and that settled the nerves. We just drove on from there.”
Alan was asked about the displays of two of his young team-mates - Billy Berry and Rob Gorman - and he duly hailed their contribution.
“Billy Berry is a class act. He’s minor again next year. But that’s what it’s all about, these young lads coming in: they have no fear and they now have a habit of winning, which is crucial. It brings us all on,” Alan said.
“Rob Gorman is a class act, a future county senior player. He led by example and is another of the young lads who have come through, put their shoulder to the wheel and stood up and were counted. I fully expect us to have five or six players on the county U21 panel and we’ll be there for years to come.”
“The first step was the county title and then we had three matches to get to the Leinster title. We’ll be raring to go on the 25th of January (for the All-Ireland semi-final against John Mitchels of Liverpool). That will be our focus come the first of January. We’ll enjoy this first, though,” added Alan.
*See this week’s Westmeath Independent for a match report, pictures, more reaction and for a free souvenir poster of the Moate All Whites team.