By Thomas Craddock and Adam Foy

Old Belvederian Ger Brennan was centre-back on the Dublin team that won this year’s All-Ireland. TY Journalism students Thomas Craddock and Adam Foy interviewed him when he visited the school with the Sam Maguire recently.
Ger told them what young players should do if they want to compete at the highest level; why his All-Ireland win has not sunk in yet; and how playing rugby for Belvedere improved his Gaelic footballing skills.

When did you start playing GAA?
I was a soccer-head when I was younger. I started playing GAA in sixth class, in St. Vincent’s CBS. I played for Na Fianna [GAA] for two years and then transferred to St Vincents [GAA].

Did you enjoy playing rugby in school?
From the start I really liked rugby. I loved the physical exchanges and making big hits. Father Culleton told me when I was in school that it is all about working for the team and putting in the work because the guy next to you will do the same

Did you play on the Junior or Senior Cup Team?
Yes, I played on both the Junior and Senior Cup teams, for the Junior I played loosehead prop, like Cian Healy. On the Seniors I played blindside flanker.

What is your best memory of rugby in Belvedere?
The first round of the Junior Cup, when we were playing Pres Bray, in St. Mary’s, Templeville Road, is my favourite memory. In first and second year I was in the crowd. We got off school early and there was great craic in the stands.
I would see the Junior and Senior Cup players getting off early [for the match] and really being looked up to by the others in school; so I really wanted to play in it.
When we were in the dressing room beforehand we could hear the crowd up above cheering us on.

Who were your coaches?
Father Culleton, Mr Meagher, and Mr Gibbons. One of my clearest memories is of Mr Gibbons always telling us that the ball is the most important: if you have the ball you can win the game

Did rugby have a positive affect on your Gaelic?
Yes it did help, especially taking big hits; I didn’t fear going into them any more

Did you keep up the rugby after leaving Belvo?
After leaving I played for about five months over in Old Belvedere and then I decided to go back playing Gaelic because I preferred it.
I was pretty bad when I got back to Gaelic and it took four or five months to get my aerobic fitness back for Gaelic, because in Gaelic there’s more running, while in rugby there is a lot of weightlifting and bulking up.

When did you get involved with Dublin?
I got in at under-14s playing for North County Dublin. Then I got into the development squads for under-14s and under-16s. Then I got into the minors and under-21s and then on to the seniors so I played all the way up

How many times a week would you train for Dublin?
Well depending on the time of the year. In January we would be training six or seven times a week, between weights and field sessions. During the League, from February to the end of May, you would be training four to five times a week, with a match on top of that.
Then for the Championship, you might just train four times. By the time the Championship comes all your fitness is more or less there, so training during that time is all tactical stuff.

Is it tough going to that many training sessions with a job as well?
Yes, it’s very tough and challenging. You have to be very organised. You have to get all your stuff ready for the week. Get all your gear in the car. I am very last-minute generally but you just have to adapt.
It’s hard to manage both of them but it’s something I do because I love sport. To me sport is great.
The work I am doing at the moment is teaching and it’s really enjoyable as well. The teaching hours are also very helpful because it gives me more time to be playing Gaelic and it makes it easier to get to training.

Who was the toughest player you have ever played against?
One of the best players I have played against is a lad called Paddy Kelly. He is also a teacher and he plays half-forward for Cork. He is a super footballer with both feet and he’s very quick.
But my toughest opponent really would be my own temperament. I get hot-headed in a game and I find it hard to control myself sometimes.

Did the loss to Cork last year in the semi-final give you more motivation to win the All-Ireland?
Absolutely yes, we met up a week after that match and we spoke about it. We spent the weeks over Christmas looking at the mental side of our game, looking at the reasons why we imploded in the last 10 minutes. We were eight points up, with twenty minutes to go, maybe it was lack of experience, indiscipline, nervousness. Mentally we probably lost it.
Had we won that game, I think we could have won the All-Ireland title. I think we could have beaten Down in the final. But “could have” doesn’t come into it. Still certainly that defeat really brought us on as a team.

What did it feel like when the full-time whistle blew in the final?
It was a great sense of relief. I wasn’t expecting it to go. I thought there were a few more minutes left. Yes, it was a brilliant feeling.
Yes, it was a great sense of relief that all the hard work finally paid off and [it showed] to all the people who didn’t think we could do it. Even past Dublin players were saying we were not going to win and saying that this player and that player should not be playing. So it was great to show them we could do it.
But it was also a great sense of pride for my family because you are representing them as well. It was great for my parents.

Which meant more to you wining the All Ireland club championship with St Vincents or the All-Ireland Senior title with Dublin?
Equally, you know the thing with your club. When we won the Dublin championship, I think it was the first time in 30 years. Playing with lads you have grown up with as a young guy and wining with them, is an unbelievable feeling. It’s like playing with your schoolmates as well, that’s the only way I can describe it because it is guys I see all the time.
Whereas when you play for your county, they are not necessarily your best mates but you are still playing together and you are out there to win for the Dublin shirt. So it’s more intimate wining for your club than for your county but equally great.

What would be your advice for any young player who wants to get in to the top level of sport?
Yes, it’s certainly hard work. Well first of all you have a dream. Have a goal that you want to achieve and if it’s something that you really, really want then you have to block out all the distractions: alcohol, women, late nights out with your friends. You have to block all that stuff out and really focus on what you want to do. So my advice is have a goal and work hard to achieve your goal and be careful of distractions

And the final questions, has wining the All-Ireland sunk in yet?
It hasn’t probably yet. It’s strange because you’re still training and keeping yourself fit. I get it from talking to my family and supporters over the last few weeks.
You see people crying. I get a sense of how much it means to them but when you’re still playing, it doesn’t fully sink in properly. Well it hasn’t for me anyhow.
Maybe in a couple of years’ time when I finish playing and I am out at an old reunion with the lads. Maybe it might sink in then!