The Bantry Blues GAA Club

 It will take more than two knee operations to stop O’Regan
27th of Sept., 2001.


IF right was right Padraic O’Regan should be in the stand on Sunday cheering on Bantry in the TSB Cork County SFC final.

After two cruciate knee ligament operations, most players would have decided they’ve had enough. But 28-year-old O’Regan is no ordinary run-of-the-mill player.

Seven years in UCC, from where he graduated with a master’s degree in history, taught him many things, not least to take every day as it comes. And after many months of rehabilitation he faces into his third county final looking for a hat-trick of medals.

Like a lot of other fellow graduates, Padraic did not use his master’s degree, opting instead to going into business for himself. He is currently involved with two well-known watering holes in Cork, the Western Star and The Parnell, and expects to retire from work by 50.

 
Paudie O Regan, back in 1998, when he had hair Sport and drink go hand-in-hand, though not the ideal combination when it comes to players. However, it seems to work well for Bantry as, apart from O’Regan, four other members of the team are deeply involved in the pub trade.

Damien O’Neill and his brother Shane are part owners of a pub in Bantry, Paul O’Rourke is involved with five pubs in the city, Eric Sheehan is also a publican, while Philip Clifford is manager of the Parnell.

Football has always been high up on O’Regan’s list of priorities. After a very successful under-age career with the Blues, during which he won every honour in West Cork, he graduated onto the county minor and U-21 teams winning an All-Ireland medal in the latter grade in 1994.

During his sojourn in UCC he won two Sigerson Cup medals and also picked up a Munster SFC medal with Cork, all before the dreaded cruciate injury threatened to end his playing career at 26.
“With the businesses up and running, the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. But I was desperately keen to get back playing. Recuperation was slow in the beginning but that’s all behind me now and I’m really looking forward to Sunday.”

O’Regan didn’t play in the earlier round against Aghada but finally made the starting 15 for the second round against Avondhu at wing back.

When Andy O’Shea broke his leg during the course of the game against Clyda Rovers, Bantry looked around for a replacement. O’Regan was the obvious choice and has remained there for the rest of the championship.

“I’ve no real preference where I play as long as I’m in the team, but if I was given a choice I would opt for a defensive role. It allows you a chance to attack also, so you have the best of both worlds.

“It’s easy to understand why Nemo start out every year as favourites to win the county.

“They have built themselves a marvellous tradition over the last 30 years and they have this great self-belief that only comes from winning.
Padraig O Regan (with a bit of hair!)


“Another tremendous asset they have is that all their backroom people have won county medals and in some cases Munster and All-Ireland medals with Cork. So, apart from the experience they have on the field, there is also great experience on the sideline which is essential.

“In our case we could never look beyond our first game. We took them as they came but now that we are in the final, there is a great buzz among the lads all of whom have been together since under-age days.

“We see this game as an opportunity to make amends for last year’s defeat by Nemo in the second round. That was a game which we should have won, particularly the first day as we led by five points coming up to the last few minutes.

“When Nemo later went on to win the title and go all the way to the All-Ireland final, it hurt as we felt it should have been us. We are getting the chance to make up for that defeat and won’t pass it up.

“There would be the utmost respect for Nemo within our camp, but we certainly don’t hold any fear of them. There will be a lot of individual duals but midfield in my view is going to be the crucial area.

“Damien and Graham have been outstanding there for us all season, and if they can produce another big performance I believe we have the forwards in Canty, Clifford, McCarthy and O’Rourke to get the match winning scores.

“There has been inconsistency in all our games this year, and we have to remove that. Nemo are past masters at capitalising on a team’s weaknesses, but if we play for the full 60 minutes we’ll be there at the finish.”

By Brendan Larkin