Club Notes: 25th January 2021

Post date: Jan 26, 2021 12:56:5 AM

Notaí CLG Tulach an Iarainn sponsored by Goalpost Ireland Tallow

Comhbhrón: ClG Tulach An Iarainn would like to pass on our condolences to Tom McSweeney club Vice President and family on the passing of Ann McSweeney in Waterford city. Originally Ann O'Flynn from New Ross she followed the fortunes of Waterford hurlers for decades but always remained a proud and staunch Wexford woman.. Dia a dheonú di sciar flaithiúil den tsíoraíocht.

Seanfhocail na Seachtain:

"Is fear Gaeilge bhriste na Béarla cliste". Broken Irish is better than good English.

"Glacann fear críonna comhairle ". A wise man takes advice.

Getting Near the End:

Memories that's all they have. Some good, some bad and some great. Over the next few weeks I decided to ask a few ex senior hurlers their experiences of the last year or years of donning the blue and goal. The mind is willing but the body can't translate the movements that were common place before. So what inner thoughts are in the mind of an aging, injured or out of sorts player? . Was their a bitterness towards their exit? How did they feel when they were no longer part of the set up? Players can have a vast career of over twenty years service while other can be short but no less valuable for the time frame they played for. Some players go on to be managers or selectors, others become officers for the club, some become both while others drift away and have no further involvement with the club. This week I spoke to Stuart Barry . Stuart's Tallow career was broken into two sections the first was from around 1993/94 to 2000. After an absence he was back again in 2003 to finish up in 2010 or around it. He continued to play junior after and is the only fella I know to play wearing two pairs of shorts as can be seen below. He was selector for the senior hurlers and junior hurlers in recent seasons and is activity involved in the club.Could you tell us what was the first Senior game you played for Tallow and the last? Stuart: The first was a tournament game in Lismore in the lashing rain and last playing was against Carricshock in a challenge game in Tallow. I actually thought I did well and scored a goal but that was the last time I got any Senior game time. In your last year did you feel it was a gradual retirement or did injuries force your hand?Stuart:A mixture of both really. I had always had bad knees and my back was injured in a car accident and it was just getting harder to recuperate and be ready for training and matches. Travelling from Cork for training and matches was making it harder and harder. There was a really good group coming through and it’s just the natural order that you make way for the next the group. It’s harsh and hard to wrap your head around it when you are trying to be at your best but in your heart you know that time has caught up. Not being picked is a good indicator too ha haHad you any nerves or apprehension in your last year in the standard of your performance? Stuart:To be honest there was a lot. I’d trained really well my second last year and wasn’t being picked regularly and it had entered my head that the writing was on the wall. I trained hard again, did a lot on my own in Cork and ya it was hard. I felt I had to do something in every game if I played. I had been moved into the forward line (because of you) and I am not a natural forward. I was quite happy to play a role, do whatever was needed for the team and knew my limitations but I think the expectations were unrealistic and I felt that I had to really do something in every game. It was really hard and I spent a lot of time in the car heading back to Cork doing post-mortems about my performances and whether it was to the teams benefit.Would you have done anything differently?

Stuart:Definitely, I would have chatted to lads in the club that were forwards and gotten some advice from them. I started in the half back line and was lucky enough to play with Timmy Sheehan and picked up a lot from him. Then when I played full back, Johnny Geary was finishing up and I remember playing a game against Roanmore below in Waterford and Johnny just spent the whole time talking to the younger players around him ( probably to get us to do the work). Then there was a spell with Colin Cunningham, Dinnie Martin and myself in the fullback line with Martin Murphy in goals and I think we just played well, trusted each other and I learned from them. I never did that as a forward which in hindsight was a mistake.

What was the main difference in your performance in your later years?

Stuart: Having moved into the forward line it was the complete opposite to what I had done for the majority of my career. As I said I knew my limitations and realised that I was just to either break the ball to one of the lads or win the ball and try to give it to someone in a better position. I wasn’t a natural forward but was happy to do my bit.

Did you stay in your normal position or switch to different ones?

Stuart: No, I have played in all the lines bar goals. As is the norm if you start fullback at the beginning of a career you normally end up getting a stint at full forward ha ha

Did you spend any time stretching, foam rolling, ice baths?

Stuart: When I played in Cork I did but when I came back I just didn’t have the time as was in the car trying to get back up the road to prepare for next days work. Then in my last 2 years I did the stretching and foam rolling from listening to James Murray.

How was your body recovery after games or training?

Stuart: Badly. It took ages to get full movement and I went to a pool every morning and just walked up and down trying to free out my back. I spent the last 2 years in quite a lot of pain and trying to manage that. If we trained Tuesday, I would be in the pool at 630am the next morning and the cycle just caught up with me.

Did you pack up sport completely or play a small bit of junior after?

Stuart: No, I loved playing junior and we had some great days – Western final win but lost a County final after a replay.

How did you feel going watching senior the year after you retired?

Stuart: Everyone will tell you that it’s hard the first few games but to me it’s about being honest and realising that I had my time and just getting behind and supporting the players and management we have now. The lads put so much in these days and game plans are much more detailed they deserve our respect and support.

Do you still keep fit and if so in what way?

Stuart: I try. I have 3 kids so they do the majority of that. But I do a bit of running and was going to Hocker twice a week before lockdown. I enjoy the adventure racing in Killarney each year.

Have you done any coaching, become a selector or interest in any of the two I mentioned?

Stuart:, I was senior selector in 2015 when we got to the County Final and was junior selector for few years after that. I also do have a big interest in coaching and will get involved at some stage.

Do you still attend games?

Stuart: Yes, when I can. It’s great to see the lads play and my kids are getting to an age where I can start bringing them.

Did you miss the discipline of training, getting your body into shape and fit?

Stuart: Absolutely. I actually loved the slog of preseason and seeing the benefits of having a good Christmas and then running it out after. I’m not the best to go away and do stuff on my own and always preferred sharing the pain, so to speak. There’s nothing better than that competitive edge that training brings.

To me nothing beats a winning dressing room, the craic, the thought that all the efforts were in vain the buzz after. Did you find the euphoria hard to replace?

Stuart:Yes it is very difficult to be honest. It is one of those natural highs that you get and when you cross the white line you know that you have to leave it all there and see what happens. Trying to replace that winning feeling is very hard and I eventually found the Quest adventure racing which allows me to try and beat my previous times etc. It’s not the same but keeps the competitive edge and also you get to compete in a level that suits and obviously try and beat the fella next to you.