Golden opportunity

Golden opportunity

Ballina’s dual star set to make history

Mike Finnerty

KENNY GOLDEN looks set to enter the history books this month by lining out in both the AIB Connacht club football and hurling championship finals with Ballina Stephenites and James Stephens respectively.
The 31 year old lined out in two provincial championship semi-finals last weekend, helping the hurlers beat Athleague on Saturday and then turning in an accomplished display for the footballers as they overcame Tourlestrane twenty-four hours later.
Next Sunday he will be at centre-half back as James Stephens, Ballina square up to the virtually impossible task of trying to trip up Portumna, the Galway champions that are backboned by the likes of Ollie and Joe Canning and Damien Hayes.
Then, on November 25, he will line out in the Connacht club football final against St Brigid’s of Roscommon. Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Golden admitted that life has been hectic of late.
“Everything has happened pretty quickly and the games have been coming thick and fast so it’s just a matter of preparing and getting on with it. It’s hectic but it’s still a great position to be in.
“I didn’t expect to be in this situation to be honest. Before this year we hadn’t won a senior hurling title for eleven years, this was our first time winning the TJ Tyrell Cup, so it was a very big thing for us.”
Golden’s schedule is complicated even further by the fact that he has been working and living in Belfast for the last five years. This means a 320 mile round-trip for matches and makes his commitment to the cause all the more remarkable.
“It’s where you come from, part of your identity,” he said. “We’ve had more success with the football in Ballina but I’d have to say that hurling is my first game.
“It can be difficult to prepare for senior club football and hurling when you’re living away and have to organise your own training.”
“The hardest thing with the hurling is that you really need to get a hurl into your hand every day. What I’ve been doing recently is going to an underground car park near to where I live that’s lit up at night and that’s where I get my skills practice in.”