The Curraghboy man who has starred for both St Brigid’s and Dingle

By Kevin O'Neill

In the build-up to Sunday’s All-Ireland Club SFC decider at Croke Park, there will be forensic analysis proffered from many quarters. Yet Curraghboy native Tom Óg O’Brien surely has a more informed view than most observers.

O’Brien won multiple honours as a player for St Brigid’s and represented Roscommon with distinction, but he also donned the red and white of Daingean Úi Chúis during an eight-year period living and working in Dingle.

Having already played for Roscommon in the 1985 Connacht SFC final, Tom Óg (then aged 22) completed his agricultural studies with a masters degree in Cork before obtaining employment in Dingle.

“It was a different world back then and employment was thin on the ground, so you kind of had to go where the work was. I didn’t want to go to America or London. I wanted to stay in Ireland, so I was happy to go to Dingle. It was meant to be for six months but ended up six years,” Tom told the Westmeath Independent.

Tom went on to become involved in the GAA scene in and around Dingle, representing West Kerry’s divisional team, as well as the Dingle club itself. In Kerry, he came across and got to know many fine footballers, managers and mentors, including the late Páidí Ó Sé, who would later manage Westmeath to Leinster SFC success.

He claimed Kerry IFC success with Dingle, too, and became close friends with fellow player Colm Geaney, whose three sons (Conor, Dylan and Niall) are part of the current Dingle panel, along with their cousins, David and Paul. In fact, Colm stood as godfather to Tom Óg’s daughter, Blaithin, who along with the rest of the O’Brien clan will be in attendance for the showpiece decider on Sunday.

Such is his close association with Sunday’s opponents, Tom Óg (now based in Athleague) and his family visit Dingle around five or six times a year. But despite his “soft spot” for the Kerry club, there’s little doubt who Tom Óg will be siding with at Croker.

“I have huge affinity for Dingle and its people, and always will. It’s a beautiful part of the country and I will always have a soft spot for it. It was brilliant seeing them win the Kerry county title for a first time in 77 years and then going on to win Munster, it was absolutely great.

“But St Brigid’s is my home, it’s my club, and if everything goes well it would be great to see them win, particularly after losing a couple of years ago against Glen,” he said.

Having returned to home pastures in 1996, Tom Óg memorably captained the Kiltoom based side to beat local rivals Clann na nGael in the 1997 Roscommon SFC final, a first title of its sort for St Brigid’s for almost 30 years. He went on to play for many more years and has also been heavily involved in coaching and managing in the club, including playing a role in the development of some of the current crop of St Brigid’s stars.

So, where does Tom Óg see the honours resting come the final whistle next Sunday?

“I’m not sitting on the fence but genuinely believe it’s a 50-50 game. I’ve seen a lot of both teams in the last few years and both have exceptional groups,” he said.

“St Brigid’s will have a huge hunger to do it after the Glen defeat. And we have an awful lot of players who basically won everything they played for through the ranks. They just have that winning mentality. I also think it’s crucial having the more experienced lads in there to help, the likes of Senan (Kilbride) and the Stacks (Ronan and Brian) and a few others. They know what it’s like to win, so that’s very important.

“Whatever way it goes, I won’t be falling out with anyone, it’s all a good bit of fun and will be a great occasion for both clubs,” he continued.

Tom Óg believes that St Brigid’s have the stronger defence but like many observers of the game in recent years, he is all too aware of the threat posed by Kerry star Paul Geaney, who scored 0-8 in a dramatic semi-final victory against Ballyboden St Enda’s, including the two-pointer which forced extra-time. He further added a two-pointer free which gave Daingean Uí Chúis the lead for the first time in extra-time.

“Ah look, like St Brigid’s they have plenty of strong players and threats, including Paul, the O’Connors and Tom O’Sullivan. Paul has been an exceptional player for some time, he has great vision. He is a leader for Dingle but St Brigid’s aren’t short in that department, either.

“It’s going to be a fascinating match because what we’ve got is two teams only interested in playing good football, and not bothered by any other silly business. I’d love to see St Brigid’s do it, I really would, so let’s see what happens,” said Tom Óg, who will, no doubt, remain an ever popular figure on both sides of Sunday’s divide.