St Colman’s captain is a natural leader
Interview
Mike Finnerty
IF it was good enough for Ray Dempsey then it was bound to be good enough for Danny McHugh and Vinnie Walsh, the shrewd St Colman’s, Claremorris management team.
Dempsey handed Shane Nally the captaincy of the Mayo minor team early last year and the Garrymore teenager didn’t let him down. Not once. From McHale Park to Croke Park, via Pearse Park, Nally led by example. We can only presume that it was a straightforward decision for St Colman’s when the colleges season kicked off again last Autumn.
Nally must be a manager’s dream. He is talented, committed, passionate about his school, club and county, and is not afraid to go in where it hurts. And like most Garrymore men, he eats, sleeps and drinks football. Next Sunday is all he can think about these days.
“It’s a great honour to be leading Colman’s out in a Connacht final,” he admits. “We love our football in Colman’s and we’re all looking forward to it.
“It’s 28 years since we won this competition and that’s too long for a school like Colman’s. An awful lot of work has gone in, this year and last year. We’ve gone up the North and played good challenge games against the likes of Omagh and Enniskillen. We’ve trained hard too and the future looks bright.
“It would be a dream of mine to lift the cup,” he adds. “I remember when I was back in first year, watching the senior panel that time training in the depths of winter trying to win a championship. I always wanted to be out there one day and now, to be captain, it would mean so much to be able to lead the lads to the title. I’d be proud to do it.”
Shane’s father, John, won six county senior championship medals with Garrymore so it’s no surprise that he is now forging a reputation in his own right. Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly have already called him into the Mayo U-21 squad this year and he is as assured and confident off the pitch as he is on it.
“I wouldn’t say there’s too much pressure on me because there’s plenty of fellas around me to take the pressure off,” he says when asked about last year’s exploits with the Mayo minors.
“When that time comes in games, with fifteen minutes to go, there’s no shortage of lads in our team to pick a team up. It’s not just me. I know people might want more from me when the chips are down but I’m willing to give it all I can for the Colman’s jersey.
“It was a bit strange coming back to school after the All-Ireland final, but football is football. You just want to get out there and play. I love playing for Colman’s, pulling on the school jersey. It’s a bit of change from playing in front of 80,000 but I don’t mind if we get a cup at the end of it.”
Nally was a member of the Colman’s team that lost last year’s final to St Jarlath’s and he will draw on that experience to help prepare in the days ahead. He will also stick to his familiar routine; pack his gear on Saturday night and enjoy every second of the build-up.
“I’d stick to myself on the morning of the game, take it easy, eat the right food, and not stress out too much. I just tend to enjoy the day.
“Once the game starts, you have to get comfortable on the ball straight away, settle in, and get to know your surroundings. I know if I drive forward the boys will move forward with me.“
Next September, Shane Nally hopes to be studying business at DCU but next Sunday he will draw on all his footballing life experience to try and rally the troops from Garrymore, Claremorris, Hollymount, Davitts and Mayo Gaels.
“Am I talker? I am I suppose,” he laughs.
He’s a good one alright.
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