The Deegans are right Royal Dubs
September 21, 2012
Michael Deegan gets away from Padraic Harnan during the 2012 Leinster MFL decider. Both play their club football in Meath and their paths will cross in the Leinster U21 FC decider at Portlaoise
Come Sunday it will be 30 years to the day since Mick, a composed but uncompromising defender, achieved the ultimate goal of any minor player when his Dublin team got their hands on the Tom Markham Cup.
Mick's loyalties in this year's Electric Ireland Minor Final are not up for debate but for a man who has lived in Ashbourne for ten years and is an active member of the local community, he has a stronger affiliation with his old adversaries in Meath than he ever expected to have. Michael, his son, plays his Club football for the local team Donaghmore Ashbourne GAC and two of Michael's club teammates will line out for the Royal's in the final, which according to Mick has provided the opportunity for plenty of banter between the three close friends.
"The amazing thing is that myself, Jack Hannigan and Conor Carton's fathers were all born and reared in Finglas Park in Dublin and played our football with Erin's Isle before moving out to Meath to rear families of our own, so we're all kind of hybrids. The one difference between Michael and the other two lads is that he was born in Dublin in 1995, the year we won the All Ireland for the first time in 12 years, so he's had no option to be anything other than a die in the wool Dub!
Mick continued, "Although Michael has been involved with the Dublin set up since the U14 development squad the craic and banter between him, Conor and Jack has reached fever pitch whenever the club side has got together recently, but it's all good fun."
On recent outings the Dublin minors has had the upper hand on Meath, particularly in the comfortable Leinster final victory but according to Mick, Dublin has not had it all their own way and expects it to be tight come Sunday, "Dublin got off to a real flier in the Leinster final and it was an uphill struggle for Meath thereafter. I think the Electric Ireland final will bear more a reflection of the game in the league which Dublin edged by a couple of points."
"This Meath side has all the motivation, two defeats this year by Dublin and a heavy one in Leinster, make no mistake there'll be ready for this game. Just look at the Kerry and Cork rivalry since the backdoor was introduced and how the motivation of losing can avenge a defeat earlier in the season. Meath has got forwards that can do damage if they can get early ball in, with young O'Sullivan and McEntee having really impressed. They've also got two strong and capable midfielders so I do expect them to get their fair share of possession, it will all be down to how they use it."
According to the ex Dublin stalwart this young sky blue team may not be as battle hardened as Meath who have come through a number of close games, including overhauling a significant deficit against a good Mayo team, he continued "The Dubs haven't really been tested, they comprehensively beat a fancied Kildare team got the upper hand in the Leinster final early on and withstood a late fightback from Kerry. However, they have been very impressive in these games and there is real air of confidence about the team but with young lads you just never know how they will react on the day, so I hope they can carry that belief through and play the brand and standard of football that has served them so well all year."
"One thing I am sure about is that they will be prepared and ready for a Meath onslaught. Having known and played with Dessie Farrell, the Dublin Manager, over many years, I know that this is a well drilled and prepared team. They have a very strong spine up the middle and with Gavin Burke, playing as a third midfielder, I think they have got the balance right in the team. A very positive attribute of this Dublin side is the capability of all of its forwards to get on the score sheet. This is a great fallback for any team and means that if the occasion is getting to one of the fellas, there are four or five others who can step up to the mark and pop the ball over the blackspot. I'm expecting big games from the likes of Cormac Costello, Niall Scully and the midfield pairing of Cunningham and Carthy and if these fellas can get the upperhand on their opponents, I believe it will be enough for Dublin to edge Meath out by a point or two."
A solid and supportive underage set up is the foundation for the success this young Dublin team is enjoying, a far cry from 30 years ago when another young Deegan was on the cusp of minor all Ireland glory. Talking about how expectation and the support structure has changed, Mick said, "We hardly knew what conditioning, nutritional plans or video analysis was in our day. It has all changed, the minors of today are more akin to young professional athletes. I don't think the team of our day could hold a torch to them, not necessarily in terms of ability but in terms of physical athleticism and tactical awareness they are light years ahead.
As for any advice that Mick will give his son Michael, with all the experience he has amassed playing at the highest level, the All Ireland winner simply lets his lad get on with it, "There can be too many comparisons with the son of former inter county footballers, my advice to Michael is simply do the best you can. All I can do is tell him how I prepared, take on fluids, get into the game and don't give away possession beyond that it's down to him and the rest of his colleagues. To be fair, they've done the business to date and I believe they'll deliver the Electric Ireland Minor title for the County come Sunday." Tweet
