INTERVIEW: When it got serious Davitts was all that mattered

They’ve been making their own type of history in Lugalisheen since the dawn of time. The village on the outskirts of Ballindine was the scene of an ancient settlement from where mighty warriors ruled the roost.

This week, the famous village rests in quiet contemplation as the natives ready themselves for a shot at championship glory. Football is the only show in town and if Davitts win the county title on Saturday night the Treacy brothers, Shane, Niall and Ciaran, from the ancient settlement will celebrate like never before.

“It was always Davitts. There was never anything other than Davitts when we were growing up,” Niall tells The Mayo News. “It's a mad GAA house. We might have played a bit of soccer growing up and things like that, but when it got serious Davitts was all that mattered,” the An Post employee explains with a smile.

The love of Davitts was instilled in the brothers from birth. Their father, John, has served the club as player, selector, manager and long-time official. Their mother, Olive, is the team physio. John was part of the famous Davitts team that won three U-21 titles in succession in the eighties. He played in the 1983 county senior final when the men in black and red came within a kick of a ball of taking the Moclair Cup back to the border and he's associated with many of the club's greatest stories.

​EVERYONE HAPPY

Now, the new generation are making their own mark in the annals of the club founded in the early seventies. Team manager Mark Concannon has guided his men to the county final at the end of a campaign where they've played with great style and dynamism.

“We're really enjoying ourselves.” Niall explains. “The coaching has been excellent and we're looking to go to Castlebar and give it our best shot. It's a very enjoyable environment and everyone is happy,” he continues.

The Treacy trio have been catching the eye all season in a forward line packed with pace, movement and scoring ability. Jack Melvin and Fenton Kelly have been writing a lot of the headlines, but the brothers from Lugalisheen have been pivotal.

The club from the southern border last won the Sweeney Cup in 2011 and they didn't stop there. The Connacht title was won a few weeks later and on February 12, 2012 they ran out in Croke Park for the All-Ireland club final. A narrow defeat at the hands of Kerry and Munster champions Milltown-Castlemaine followed and the Treacys remember every moment of that great adventure.

​CROKE PARK

“Dad was involved with Pete Warren that year and we'd always be hanging around at training or games. The pitch in Ballindine is three minutes from the house, so as soon as a ball was kicked, we'd be there.

“That was a great year. Winning Mayo and Connacht and playing in Croke Park was special and we haven't been back in a final since. It has been a dream to have days like that ourselves on the field and we're really looking forward to Saturday evening to see what we can do,” Niall states before being asked about his team manager, Mark Concannon.

“We met Mark at the start of the year and he brought a great sense of confidence with him. Everything was geared towards championship. We didn't panic in the league. Results might not have gone our way, but we were missing a lot of lads and knew once we had everyone back we'd be sound. The coaching is excellent and very enjoyable,” he adds.

The mood at training has been good and everyone has put their shoulder to the wheel. “Everyone puts in a big effort and the lads away in college always make it back to train during the week. Jack Melvin, Cathal Corless, Dylan O'Brien and the others never fail to turn up and that makes a huge difference.”

​GREAT UNDERSTANDING

The Treacy brothers all play in the forward line. Ciaran and Niall play close to goal while Shane starts in the half-forward line and roams the pitch. “I suppose each of us has a good understanding of what the other two are trying to do during a game. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but we're enjoying it at the moment,” he added before explaining how the local environment is quickly being coloured black and red.

“The Tidy Towns people were out putting up the colours and there's flags everywhere. The schools are all doing things this week and in my job with An Post I'm meeting lots of people who are all set to travel to Castlebar on Saturday.”

The Davitts squad haven't been in a final since 2011 and the only playing links to that team are Liam Kearns and Colm Boyle. The latter is one of the greatest to ever play the game and after a lifetime of kicking, encouraging and coaching, the five-time All-Star is still giving it everything in training every evening in Ballindine.

“He really is a legend,” Niall explains. “I know we see him every day in training, but it's inspirational for us to witness the effort he puts in and the shape he keeps himself in despite all he has acheived in the game. He has great experience of big days and that'll be very important this week.”

Treacy's final thoughts revert to Saturday's opponents and the quality in their arsenal. Ballinrobe are a fine team. We know them well from playing them over the years. They have a good mix of youth and experience and have talent in every area of the field. But we want to be back playing senior football here in Ballindine and I think we'd thrive at that level. We'd have no fear of that at all, so hopefully we will perform to our potential on Saturday, and if we do we won't be far away.”