WATCH: Oisin O'Brien thrilled to back in Caherlistrane colours
CAHERLISTRANE forward Oisin O’Brien says it means everything to be back representing his home club after spending a spell playing with Meath side Navan O’Mahonys while working as a teacher in the Royal County.
O’Brien was also previously part of the Meath senior football panel under Andy McEntee, having earlier featured on the Galway minor football team that won the All-Ireland title in 2007.
“It means everything, I started with Caherlistrane when I was six years old. I’m 36 now so it means everything this is my home, this is where I’m from,” O’Brien told Tribune Sport.
Caherlistrane made a blistering start, racing into a 2-8 to 0-2 lead thanks to first-half goals from Ciaran Donnellan and Alan Morris. That early advantage laid the foundations for a comfortable ten-point victory over Davitts in the Connacht Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final at MacHale Park on Sunday.
“We know the forwards we have, we know the belief that is in the squad. We know the young lads we have, it’s no surprise to us we know the talent that is in the squad. It might surprise some people watching that, but it didn't surprise us.”
Switching their focus to the provincial championship just two weeks after their county final victory over An Spidéal was not a challenge, insisted the Caherlistrane forward.
“When you get word that it is down in Mayo and you have a chance to go down and play the Mayo champions, it was easy enough to focus on. It was one we were looking forward to and it’s a nice win.”
Davitts rallied before the break, with a penalty from Jack Melvin bringing them back into contention as they reduced the deficit to 2-8 to 1-7 at half-time.
However, Conor Faulkner, Shane Greaney and Timmy Madden helped restore Caherlistrane’s control during the opening seven minutes of the second half. Barry McCabe’s side maintained their advantage throughout the remainder of the contest and never allowed Davitts to threaten their lead.
“We have good leaders there. Shane Bohan is rock solid, we know we can manage the game when we are ahead or behind and we didn’t panic.”
Caherlistrane manager Barry McCabe and his selectors Barry Lee and Brendan Murphy were part of the club’s last team to win the Connacht Championship at this grade in 2005.
“They’re rare occasions, our management team Barry McCabe, Brendan Murphy and Barry Lee, them lads have been in this situation before. They have the medals to show for it, we don’t,” concluded O’Brien.