Buggy at home with St Mullins

JJ KAVANAGH & SONS SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL PREVIEW

ST MULLINS V MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS

SUNDAY 11 AUGUST, NETWATCH CULLEN PARK, 3PM

They say you can never love two GAA clubs. Yet the St Mullins manager, Tommy Buggy, acknowledges that he has to be the exception to this thought process. The Erins Own club man from Castlecomer says the club he has linked up with again holds a special place in his heart.

“I love the place. I love the people. I genuinely do. They say you cannot love two clubs. Castlecomer is my club but I do love the culture in St Mullins. I love the people in St Mullins and I love what they stand for as a club,” he says.

He managed the club to a county final success in 2002 and has also managed Carlow minor teams which included many of the hurlers who lined out on Saturday.

During the post-match interview, he frequently interrupted to commiserate with some of the Bagenalstown rivals including John ‘Jacko’ Rogers, Brian ‘Beany’ Doyle, Murty Cummins and manager Eddie Scally. Even though they were on opposite sides the mutual affection was apparent. Hurling is what drives Buggy.

He says he will “bookend” his career with St Mullins.

“I started my managerial career with them and I will finish with them. I didn’t say when I finish it with them but I will finish it with them,” he reveals.

After the game and behind closed doors, he addressed his St Mullins players. It was the start to preparing them for the challenge they face next week against Mount Leinster Rangers “Just said well done. We got through. Semi-finals are about winning. I said to them that next week’s game will be a completely different game. A team with a different style is coming to face us. A team with a huge pedigree and we have to be ready for that. I also said it is still a championship match and all the satisfaction comes at the end of it all.” All the physical work has been done. It has been mainly skill, touch and keeping players sharp and focussed now.

“We are trying to make sure there is no mental fatigue. The preparation won’t be any different this week,” acknowledges Buggy who will gather the squad together on Friday night where the team will be announced.

“This week is all about getting lads mentally sharp again and making sure there is no fatigue. Make sure injuries are treated properly. Make sure we have 25-26 to pick from next week.

The two clubs back-boned the 2024 Carlow team which won a place in the NHL 1B competition for next year. A battle awaits.

“Two serious clubs. Clubs with a brilliant culture. Any club who comes out of Carlow should have a design on Leinster. I remember 22 years ago we came out of Carlow and put a huge emphasis on it. We got to a Leinster semi-final where we came up against that great Birr team.” Against Bagenalstown, it was a surprise to see that Paudie Kehoe didn’t start. Buggy revealed the defender twinged a hamstring towards the end of the drawn game last week.

St Mullins looked lethargic and lacking somewhat in confidence in the replay. James Doyle and Marty Kavanagh struggled but Doyle still got a vital goal and Kavanagh popped over dead balls from various ranges. Buggy acknowledges they may not have been as sharp as they usually but he does suggest there will be so many potential match winners on show when St Mullins meet the reigning champions.

“They never stopped trying and by the end of it James was so good when he went to midfield in extra-time. He was a huge help there. At the end of it, these are two hurlers for the ages. They are brilliant. ” “Rangers have a few of them as well. Tactically this game could be a little bit different. It could come down to the brilliance of one Rangers or one St Mullins player,” says the St Mullins manager.