Galway camogie manager with Midas touch

ANYONE who has been following Galway senior camogie in the last number of years will tell you if that there has been one fundamental element the Tribeswomen have been sadly lacking, it has been that little bit of luck.

Well, that is something they hope to rectify this year with the appointment of Noel Finn, a man who has led Galway to three All-Ireland titles between junior and intermediate on the three previous occasions he was involved in the county camogie set-up.

It may be unfair to put Finn’s significant All-Ireland title haul simply down to luck – there are few who work harder for the cause – but, certainly, he is the first to acknowledge that there are times when you have to unashamedly flirt with the fair Lady.

“I suppose I have (been a lucky manager), but you make your own luck too,” insists Finn. “It is great winning the three All-Irelands the three years that I was there, but having said that you can’t do it without the players.

“As I always said, there are loads and loads of great camogie players in Galway and it is no different this year. But, yes, I suppose you do need a bit of luck as well. If you don’t have a bit of luck, well …” Finn’s voice trails off. It can be a fine line.

His assessment, though, that you make your own luck is just as pertinent. In guiding the Galway juniors to National League, Connacht and All-Ireland success in 2003, Finn left little to chance. It was the same in 2004, when he coaxed the same team to annex the All-Ireland intermediate outfit to their tidy collection of silverware.

Although Finn, having also took charge of the seniors in 2004, was unable to deliver with that team in the top tier – they were defeated by Cork in the semi-final – he did return to the intermediate set-up in the Summer of 2009 to, once again, inspire them to yet another All-Ireland crown.

Yet, what prompted him to return to the fold after an absence of five years? “It was kind of funny. When the U-16s won (the All-Ireland) last year, I met Ann Kearney (Camogie Board Secretary) and she asked me would I be interested in going back.

“This was May – the intermediate manager (Gerry Flannery) had stood down – and we were out in June, so we had exactly 28 days before we played our first championship match against Clare. So, we had to get the players together,” recalls the affable bookmaker.

After assembling a management team of trainer Basil Larkin and selectors Helena Huban of Kinvara, U-16 manager Johnny Kane and Killimordaly’s Kevin Kelly, Finn and company began to construct a squad of substance and in the group stages his charges accounted for Clare, a strong Wexford side, and a fancied Derry outfit, before taking Tipperary apart in the semi-final. This set up an All-Ireland final meeting with championship favourites Cork.

While it took Galway time to settle to the task in hand in the decider, they did hold a three-point lead as the contest entered injury-time. However, Cork – as Cork do – then hit the Westerners for a goal to earn a 2-9 to 0-15 draw, and force a replay.

For more, read page 53 of this week's Connacht Tribune.