1 day Ago By Irishexaminer.com
AFTER two successive relegations, Dolphin will embark on their Energia All Ireland League men’s 2C campaign determined that the rebound starts now and with the tragic loss of a clubmate their primary motivation to achieve their goals. New vice-captain Brian O’Mahony knows there are plenty of things to put right, starting this Saturday at Bruff, following their drop from 2B last term. The addition from within the club of former player turned sports psychologist Tim Marron has already produced positive effects yet what will also be a significant driver for Dolphin in 2024-25 will be the commitment to honour the memory of former team-mate, back-rower Craig O’Herlihy.
“Doughnuts” to his comrades, O’Herlihy, 23, died on August 18 following a road accident in Co. Kerry and O’Mahony told the Irish Examiner that his passing, four months after coming off the bench to score a try in last season’s relegation play-off final against Galwegians, had helped fuel the Dolphin squad’s desire to make a swift return up the AIL ladder. “I think we’re in a good position based on the summer we’ve done,” O’Mahony said.
“We had the unfortunate loss of our friend, a squad member, so we’re trying extra hard now to do it for Craig and we’re pretty motivated because of that. “Target that top four in the table and you’re in the shop window to get back up to 2B. Whether that’s straight up or through the play-offs we’ll target that top four and hope for the best after that.
” A former PBC Cork skipper in 2016, O’Mahony will be starting his fourth season at Dolphin following a move from UCC, and the priorities for improvement are crystal clear to the squad and management group led once more by director of coaching Steve Ford. “We’re looking good, hopefully, but the first game of AIL will tell a lot. Our away form hasn’t been ideal so that’s one of the big goals this season is to improve that.
We gone two seasons without an away win so you’re not doing anything without that.” That is where sports psychologist Marron has come in, as O’Mahony explained. “Two years ago we realised we weren’t closing out games well and were on the wrong side of a lot of close games so Tim was an ex-club player and still around the place, so he was there for us as a resource.
“He does a lot of work with GAA clubs and some inter-county set-ups as well. He’s brilliant, he played with us for a few years and then retired through concussion and he’s with us all the time now. “I’m rehabbing a knee injury currently and he’s been doing a load of work with me around the psychology of returning to play, talking through it and it’s been brilliant.
As for the away form, O’Mahony added: “We’re getting better at it. We’ve changed around different things, like we no longer stop in hotels before matches if we can help it, just make a quick stop on the road and that gives fellas an extra hour in bed. We’re trying everything but we did have four northern trips and Sligo (last season) so that was five nights away and there’s a lot of travelling and strange beds.
“It’s not an excuse but it is difficult, so it’s something we’re going to have to get right this season. There’s three northern teams in our league this year so three overnights, we’re going to have to get it right.”.
