A life less ordinary
December 31, 2002
The streets of Seattle can be the best of places and the worst of places. But for much of 2001 they were the best of places for Drumconrath player Austin Hickey. At the age of only 21 he was the Strength and Fitness coach for the University of Washington American Football team, the Washington Huskies.
The Huskies play their games in the majestic 70,000 capacity Husky Stadium and last year won the coveted Rose Bowl, which is second only in stature to the NFL Super Bowl. "It was a great experience. I really loved it over there and the fans at the games were just phenomenal. I mean the Seattle Seahawks play in the stadium also and rarely fill it, but when the Huskies play it is always packed," explains Austin.
The Drumconrath centre halfback was on work placement in Seattle from the University of Limerick (UL) for the year. He graduated this summer with a BSC degree in Sport & Exercise Science. He recalls his time in Seattle with great enthusiasm but admits that he missed playing Gaelic football, and could not take any part in Drumconrath's 2001 campaign. Therefore he was itching to play this year.
Apart from Gaelic football he participates, and is extremely successful, in a wide range of sports. In May of this year he was crowned Irish Senior Weightlifting champion in the 94-kilo class. In November 2001 he was a winner at the Irish Junior Bench-press championships and was a Leinster boxing runner-up in 1998. Presently 22-years-old, his list of titles is quite extraordinary, but when talking about these accomplishments Austin remains unpretentious. "Sure I only went up to the weightlifting championships for the laugh," he jokes.
However behind the jovial exterior is a seriously committed and dedicated sportsman. While down in Limerick he trained on his own initiative with a friend, Mark Kilgallon, to maintain his fitness. Kilgallon, who hails from Cork, was part of the Bishopstown side that contested the Cork senior football championship final this year.
Austin also lined out for the UL team and played alongside a number of inter-county stars such as Shane Briggs from Waterford, Timmy Carroll from Limerick, Gary Mullins from Mayo and both Niall Fitzgerald and Damien O'Brien from Tipperary. However UL went out in the first round of the 2002 Sigerson Cup against GMIT. Earlier on in the year Austin marked Cork scoring sensation Colm Corkery in a challenge match between UL and Nemo Rangers. Playing as a fullback Austin kept Corkery to only a single point from play. It is a feat few have ever achieved. "Yeh Colm is an exceptional footballer.
He is also extremely fast over the first ten metres or so and is deadly accurate. I remember Nemo had a sensational full-forward line that day with Corkery at full and Joe Kavanagh and Alan Cronin in the two corners," he says.
On the club front though, he admits that things didn't work out as well as hoped this year. "It has been a difficult season for Drumconrath. Losing our first championship match to Carnaross was a huge setback, because we had worked so hard up until that game. We were unlucky to lose that match, but when we did, a lot of people seemed to lose interest. That was evident from our second championship outing against Duleek.
We had a great run in the late 90's when things were going well for about five years, but the interest has now gone and there appears to be very little fight left in this team. Having said that, it must be mentioned that we missed a lot of players this year, with Pete McMahon and Kevin Flanagan suffering from injury. Wayne Sherlock, Wayne Reilly and Paul Tighe being away for most of the year, and lengthy suspensions for Cathal and Alan Byrne didn't help matters either. All of that resulted in an under strength team for many matches," he argues.
"Strangely although we lost, I think the game against Carnaross was our best performance all year," continues Austin. "The Castletown match was our only championship victory and the fact that the game was in Pairc Tailteann and was the opener for the Louth v Kildare clash made it all the more important. The Rathkenny game was the one where we felt our best chance was of getting vital points, however, despite holding them scoreless for the entire second half, we still ended up losing by two points unfortunately."
Austin was undoubtedly Drumconrath's player of the year and even picked up a Green Star for his performance against Carnaross. He enjoyed solid outings all season and marked Meath All-Ireland winner Donal Curtis when they faced Rathkenny. "I enjoyed marking him, and we had a real good battle during the game," he recalls.
Living in Limerick meant that he had to endure the onerous journey back home to Meath for all the Drumconrath games, but it was a commitment he was only too happy to make. "It never really bothered me and I've been playing with these guys here for years now so missing training was never a problem and I was keeping myself fit down in Limerick. I attended every game this year and the club paid the travelling expenses. Drumconrath are very good with things like that," he points out.
And although 2002 was not a year to remember, Austin still believes that Drumconrath are strong enough for the intermediate grade. "We are definitely well able for intermediate football and have proved it in the past, but problems such as a lack of self-belief have brought us down recently. Once we start to believe in ourselves again, things should improve."
He has been involved with the red and whites since he was seven and says that "the legendary Jody Farrell was responsible" for him and most kids in the area playing with the club. "I started when I was seven or so, but played my first real game when I was nine in an under-10 challenge match in Ardee. That was the only under-10 game I ever played in because there was no under-10 league back then."
In the years since Austin has won two minor titles and two back-to-back under-21 titles with Drumconrath. The love of the game has always been in the family and his older brother James played for the club up until 1998. However his career was cut short, when at the age of 21, he picked up a shoulder injury.
Austin's impressive form for Drumconrath grabbed the attention of the Meath junior selectors this year and he was called into the panel for the championship opener against Offaly. He remembers the day prior to his first game with the juniors lucidly. "I was playing centre back for Drumconrath against Curraha and was marking Ian McManus. We had a good battle and I played pretty well.
Anyway the following day the Meath juniors played a challenge match against Longford and I was actually playing alongside Ian in the halfback line. We also played Dublin in a challenge before the Offaly game." Austin played for Meath in that game but the Royals were defeated after leading by eight points at one stage.
He is currently studying Strength & Conditioning in Edinburgh and was in Scotland for two of Drumconrath's championship games this year. But on both occasions the club flew him over for those matches. His desire to succeed is almost suffocating and he is a dedicated and intelligent footballer.
It was those attributes that persuaded Sean Boylan to offer Austin a trial with the Meath seniors back in April. He played for Meath against their under-21 counterparts in Simonstown along with a host of other players Boylan wanted to try out, such as Kilmainham's Barry Lynch and Gaeil Colmcille's Henry Barry. "That was a good experience and I found Sean, Colm Coyle and everybody else involved with the team to be very nice. I got another call to play for them in a challenge against Louth I think, but injured my hamstring a week or so beforehand so couldn't play. I haven't heard anything since but I will keep doing my best and see what happens."
He also followed Meath's progress in this year's championship until they fell to Donegal on July 20th. Next year, if things go well, he might just have a part to play in determining their league and championship campaigns. But for now Austin remains in Scotland, where once more, he has the difficult task of training alone.
He wants to play with Meath and if that chance arises, he will seize the opportunity with both hands. Indeed it will have been quite an amazing journey to get to that dressing room if he does so. For he will walk in with a national weightlifting and bench-press title, a Leinster boxing medal and the Rose Bowl coached champions tucked under his belt. Nevertheless he will walk in still wanting to win more, still pushing himself, still determined to succeed. Austin Hickey's life has been far from dull or ordinary. In fact it has been a life less ordinary. But then he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
A year in review
Sunday 13th of October 2002, up early, first really cold morning, got the breakfast and down the bog road for the water that has refreshed Drumconrath players over the years. None of that tap water for us, extra cold out of the Breslanstown pump that morning was a blessing in disguise as Saturday night brings its own temptations.
Back up through the village at 10.40am. No flags or bunting for this final. First good sign Cathal and Alan Byrne heading up the street and today it wasn't for mass. Back into the village at 10.55 'taught you said quarter to eleven' was the greeting. Second good sign a good group around The Grotto. Paddy Reilly has the jerseys. Without asking or being told we knew who was on the soft drinks last night. Nicky Callan sold very little Lucozade that morning.
Vinny was going straight to Simonstown, Noel was on his way back from the airport with Austin, Martin White was booked. Davy Byrne said 'it was time to go.'
Third good sign, not much being said in the dressing room just lads togging out and out on the pitch warming up. Jerseys handed out and everyone knew that Moynalvey would have to be in top form to beat those lads today. Vinny said a few well chosen words. Just as well Simonstown is a new and well built building with extra strong hinges on the doors as the red and white went out.
Stephen and Peter handed out the passes. Paddy Duff had his book. Someone said "Hogsie put a jersey on Mickel needs a pass." David Callan can't be here today.
Alan 'smoothy' Byrne kicked two points early on, Garry Tighe was winning plenty of ball and the Sherlocks where up for it. Pete ran 40 yards and fisted a point, Padraig kicked out off his right and one off his left, another for Pete, a free from Smoothy after Rory was fouled. Seven points to nil. Pete hit a massive free from 72 yards or was it meters. Kic Fada here we come. Paddy Reilly scored a neat point 'The Legend' never lost it and then set up Smoothy for a great goal.
Drumconrath scored 1-8 in 30 minutes, we hadn't scored that much in 60 mins all year. Moynalvey had 0-3. Paul Tighe was in. Lost count of the good signs.
First 10 minutes of the second half would be important. Smoothy got another 2 points, Moynalvey got two also. Eoin got the line. Cathal and Austin were on top, Paul Carey's fresh legs knee bandage and all where in to pick up the extra man and looked like he would score a point but wisely passed to that man Smoothy. Ten points up, one man down, 15 minutes left.
We knew Moynalvey would lie down too much at stake, they got a point, Kane made a wonderful save and then a miss kick for a point fooled him and went in off the post. But Barney had the measure of their danger man and Ollie and Kevin F weren't flinching. Peter Tighe's man was replaced. 11 minutes to go and still six in it.
Shane Byrne was in, another minor for the maroons. Christopher Tighe came on for Alan Byrne (just to keep his head from swelling). No, he deserved his own personal round of applause. Two injury time frees and the dreaded three points in it, but three long blasts and a big cheer from the red and white faithful and they sang 'You'll never walk alone' James Hickey was seen on the terrace, hope springs eternal.
As Del Boy sang "This time next year we'll be millionaires" - don't get carried away. The Intermediate Final, the one with the flags and bunting will do.
Team on the day
Sean Kane, Brian Flannagan, Oliver McMahon, Kevin Flannagan, Cathal Byrne, Austin Hickey, Peter Tighe, Wayne Sherlock, Paddy Reilly 0-1, Rory McMahon, Pete McMahon 0-3, Eoin Sherlock, Alan Byrne 1-6, Padraig McMahon 0-2, Garry Tighe. Subs: Paul Tighe, Paul Carey, Shane Byrne, Christopher Tighe.
We got the thumbs up from Mickel!
Drumconrath IFC 2002
1st Round - 2 point defeat by Carnaross but if Mickel's overhead flick was inside instead of outside it could have changed the whole year
2nd Round - Injuries to full back Kevin, centre half Austin, midfielder Peter and full forward Pauidi not to mention Wayne Sherlock going to Chicago left us no match for Duleek
3rd Round - Suspensions added to the injuries meant very under strength team went under to Curraha
4th Round - It was said if Louth have some of our forwards they might have beat Kildare in Pairc Tailteann that day as a good team display. A penalty save by Sean Kane and five points from returned Wayne Reilly we beat Castletown
5th Round - We needed a game quickly to keep the momentum gained in Pairc Tailteann but an 8 week lapse before St Colmcilles meant another defeat
6th Round - 13 second half wides in a game in which Rathkenny failed to score in the second half meant another defeat in a game we feel we should have won
7th Round - Slane beat us but they knew they were in a game and that stood to them as they beat Carnaross to reach the semi final the next week
Relegation Final - Against Moynalvey we saved the best wine till last and no one will want to draw Drumconrath in the 1st round of the IFC in 2003.
Peter O'Halloran
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