Niall Carty celebrates following Pádraig Pearses AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-FInal win over Mohill. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
“Six years ago, you were wondering would you ever win a county final,” Niall Carty responds instantly when asked about this being a remarkable era for Pádraig Pearses.
It has been quite an adventure for the proud and defiant Roscommon club, who’ve stayed relevant on the local and provincial stages.
Sunday’s AIB Connacht Club SFC decider at Markievicz Park against Coolera-Strandhill is the next assignment. “Now, we're looking at a third Connacht final, it would have been unbelievable to even think that it was possible six or seven years ago,” Carty acknowledges. It has been a great few years.
"There is great excitement around the place. There is great excitement travelling to different venues, playing against teams you wouldn't normally play against. There is great excitement amongst everyone in the club, everyone is really getting behind the team.”
Playing outside the county boundaries matters deeply. Connections have been formed, families simply relish the trips. “Even just the cars taking off in the morning from the club or the drive home to the club, just the big numbers,” Carty adds.
“It is something you just don't get in the county stage of the competition. Those away days are special. Even the little bit of time you get on the pitch, after the game, with family and friends. There is something very nice about that.”
Having featured in the Roscommon jersey, Carty appreciates the work carried out at every level in the club. Emerging footballers are contributing to the Pearses’ story. “The key to that is the freshness of the young lads coming through,” Carty remarks.
“I think that is the key to maintaining any bit of success or maintaining any bit of a run. We've been lucky in the last year or two where there has been a cohort of players, who have come through. They've stepped up to the mark, especially this year.
Niall Carty remains an influential figure for Pádraig Pearses. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“They're really driving it on with leadership and taking the initiative. So, that along with the slightly older heads, lads that have been around a bit longer, put that altogether, that is the recipe, hopefully, for success.”
Far from a provincial showpiece, Pearses are building for the future. “That is a testament to the underage coaches,” Carty explains. “A lot of the time they are overlooked or don't get the recognition they should.
"We've represented Roscommon at every level with big numbers recently, that is down to the Red Tigers that we do, which is more of a recent thing on a Saturday morning.
“At U10, U12, U14, U16, the coaches have brought them along the whole way up, that is where all of this is started. You don't get success, you don't get any of this, you don't get your chances to play in Connacht finals unless you've that right.”
Frank Canning, from a famous Portumna family, has kept Pearses believing. Tough losses were endured previously in the 2005, 2008, 2012, 2015, and 2016 Roscommon deciders. Pearses persevered. “It started with Pat Flanagan coming in, he is the one that got us over the line,” Carty says.
“That first one is probably the hardest one to win. We were probably good enough to win past county finals, but maybe the mental side of things or building up the pressure of winning it the first time, that maybe got to us.
“Pat was able to get us right, to get that first win in 2019. Then, there has been great work done since then. Frank, and the lads this year, have got things right, we've got a bit of luck along the way too. There has been a lot of work done over the years.”
Injuries disturbed Carty’s last act as a Roscommon player. So, there is a real sense of fulfilment to be contributing for Pearses. “For me, in my last year with Roscommon I was really struggling with injuries,” Carty recalls.
Referee Eddie Kinsella with captains, Niall Carty, Roscommon, and Martin Carroll, London, before a 2015 Connacht SFC game in Ruislip. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“I had severe tendonitis in my patella tendon, in my right knee. I was just struggling to train properly, and I didn't feature much that year. Then, my thinking was leave the county, leave it at that, go back to have a number of years where I can enjoy it with less load, and maybe not train as intense, and maybe take the odd session off.
“There was something nice about that. I ended up tearing that tendon the summer after that, my first year just playing club with no county.
"At different times throughout the years, you'd be wondering with injuries, is it time to leave it at that, but there is something nice to be able to completely focus on the club.
“When you get to a certain age, with a certain amount of injuries, you need that time where you're not playing the full year round. You can time your run a small bit, it isn't as full on.”
Undoubtedly, there is joy in the journey. During the week Carty works as a secondary school in Athlone with sport occupying a central role. “It is definitely a help, you're looking all of the time to make connections with the students,” Carty explains.
“It could be something you've in common, that could be sport, it could be GAA, or it could be other things you've in common. You're just trying to connect with their interests, so it is definitely a help with the classroom.
“Then, you've the coaching element with the various GAA teams in the school, definitely it is a positive to be able to make connections with the students outside of what they're actually doing in the classroom. All of that helps to get the most out of them and getting them to reach their full potential.”
It is similar with Pearses, where Carty continues to lead by example.
