Dohenys Down Under ready to spring a surprise in league final

IT’S doubtful that there will be bonfires in Dunmanway next Sunday if five former Dohenys footballers win silverware Down Under, but there will be plenty of celebrating on both sides of the globe it if happens.

This Sunday, twins David and Tom Collins, Alan Sheehan, Cian Ó Loinsigh and Denis Cronin will line out for Garryowen GAA Club in the final of the Victorian Gaelic Football League in Melbourne, with Wolfe Tones providing the opposition.

The Dunmanway exports have played a big role in helping Garryowen reach this stage of the league competition, starring in the 5-8 to 3-10 semi-final win (after extra-time) against Padraig Pearses at the Gaelic Park in Keysborough, Victoria.

Full back Tom Collins scored a goal, Cian Ó Loinsigh was corner back, David Collins started at wing back, Alan Sheehan kicked 0-6 from centre forward and Denis Cronin added 0-1 from the inside forward line.

‘The standard of football is pretty good out here, probably best compared to average senior teams back home. There are plenty of ex-county players out here in Australia, from both U21 and senior level,’ David Collins told The Southern Star this week.

‘It’s the club’s 60th year anniversary this year so we’re looking to have some silverware at the dinner dance! It won’t be easy, Wolfe Tones will be favourites on Sunday.

‘Getting involved with the GAA in Australia really helped Tom and myself get to know a lot of people over here. We are only here four months, it took us a while to get settled in but the fact we had friends out here already really helped us. Denis and Alan have been out here for 18 months and Cian is living here for the past four years.’ 

Garryowen might be the underdogs in Sunday’s league final and that’s a position that the Dohenys contingent know only too well from home, but, like the Dohenys have done several times in the past, they’re ready to spring a surprise, this time Down Under.