Robbie O'Dwyer enjoying managing Nemo Rangers

By Cian O’Connell

In Nemo Rangers everywhere you turn there is a decorated footballer or an interesting story. Seven AIB All-Ireland club victories, 17 Munster crowns, and 23 Cork SFC titles have been collected throughout the years.

So, Robbie O’Dwyer is simply delighted to be part of all. From one of the most renowned GAA families in the country, O’Dwyer knows the value of sport, the possibilities it brings, the adventures that take place.

Living in Cork for a few decades, O’Dwyer has forged a meaningful connection with Nemo. Once O’Dwyer stopped playing with Waterville in Kerry, he joined Nemo, and started training underage teams.

Inevitably, O’Dwyer progressed to being involved in a coaching capacity at senior level. When the highly regarded Paul O’Donovan stepped down as senior manager, O’Dwyer took charge. Jimmy Kerrigan, Dinny Allen, and Larry Kavanagh are in the backroom team; Nemo to the core.

O’Dwyer always found Nemo to be a welcoming place. “I've been in the club a long time, I played with them in junior when I transferred up from home,” O’Dwyer explains.

“I got involved in teams when my young fella was five, he is 24 now. Between playing and coaching, I've been involved all the way through really. I won a county with the minors and U21s, and I was involved as a coach/trainer when they got to the All-Ireland club final in 2018. The next step was probably the main job, that is what I'm doing now, at the moment.

“We've a lot of players that have joined us on and off over the years. The club is very welcoming from that aspect. The fellas I've been involved coaching with, who grew up there and played there, they've all put it back into the club which is huge. All the ex players, that is the strength of the club, that is what they do.”

The way Nemo consistently compete in Cork is worthy of the utmost respect. Transitional phases don’t last for too long, Nemo are always serious contenders. Sunday’s televised Cork SFC quarter-final against Clonakilty in Bandon carries intrigue.

How do Nemo remain relevant? “That is the tradition in the club,” O’Dwyer replies. “At underage we wouldn't be as successful, we don't win a lot underage from the point of view maybe until we get to U21 or senior.

“A lot of that is because we tend to divide our players underage. We don't just put out one strong team, we put out two teams so that we are giving people games. Players develop differently.

“Some at underage, who mightn't be that good at 14, 15, or 16, they develop and obviously come through. A lot of it is harnessing the skills, trying to bring players through.

“There is a huge emphasis on that in the club. Obviously, it is important that we win, but I think it is more important from a young age to bring players through. That seems to happen in the club.”

Maintaining such a long-term approach takes patience and understanding. “I just think that has been the motto in the club as long as I've been there,” O’Dwyer adds.

“Obviously, a lot of people think that we've a huge pool of players coming into the club, we don't really. A lot of the ex players kids play there, but you don't have huge numbers of players coming.

“What they do try is to bring players all the way up. From maybe U16 you try to put out your stronger teams as you're going forward. Up to U15 you leave the players at the age, you're just trying to progress them really, trying to make them better.

“I've seen it, players that weren't making it at that age, they've still come through because they develop differently as they progress.”

Ultimately, O’Dwyer relishes time on the pitch, trying to help players improve and flourish. Is there a shift in emphasis when moving from coach to manager? “I probably still do a bit of both, the fellas involved with me, they laugh at me thinking I'm doing too much, the coaching and the managing,” O’Dwyer chuckles.

“That is just the way I'm built. I've been involved in both. I just try to be all in, I do delegate, we've a very good guy looking after the strength and conditioning. He does a lot of the training with myself and the selectors, Jimmy Kerrigan, Dinny Allen, and Larry Kavanagh, all former players.

“They're a great sounding board to have on the line. They've their input too. It is different coaching and managing, but I try to combine the two, I don't differentiate them. You've to be doing both in the job you're in.”

The fact the three selectors bring expertise from different Nemo eras adds another dimension. “Hugely, in fairness to Jimmy, Dinny, and Larry, they've all given back to the club,” O’Dwyer says.

“They've been involved in underage, the hurling and football side of it. So, they've been involved in both, they are still giving back to the club. They're great fellas to have involved, they're well respected. They're great for me, they've great knowledge.

“The game has changed over the years, but they're very knowledgeable and helpful, it is great to have them there.”

Unsurprisingly, football was the chief topic on the agenda growing up in the O’Dwyer household. The totemic Mick O’Dwyer will be a cherished figure forever.

Valuable lessons were learned ensuring Robbie O’Dwyer’s enduring passion for the game is similar to his father’s. “It has been the hallmark of everything in our family,” he responds. “We've been playing it, we've been involved.

“When we'd sit around the table, it was talking about matches. Our mother wasn't too happy about it, nothing, but football, football, football. From our point of view, it was something we grew up with, something we enjoyed, something we’re giving back to.

“I'm delighted to be able to give it back to Nemo now. I was with my own club for a long time, now I'm above in Cork, I'm giving something back to the club which is great. They were good to me when I came here initially.

“It is just in my blood. I love being involved in football, going to matches. The ins and outs, the way things have changed in the modern game, it is just great to be involved. I'm happy doing what I'm doing, at the moment.”