“Just be the best that I can be, in all walks of life". That's the words Oisin Gough gave to the Cuala club website when asked for his aspiration in 2014.
Sadly their best wasn’t enough that year, however 2015 has proved to be better with Gough skippering the side to a first Dublin title in 21 years. Known on the inter county scene as a tidy corner back Gough was part of the Blue revolution winning an All Ireland colleges and underage Leinster titles before going on to feature for the senior side under Anthony Daly.
A Leinster senior medal in 2013 has now been followed by a county medal as Mattie Kenny’s side ended a 21 year wait beating St Jude's in the final last weekend. “It’s a great achievement for us as a club to deliver on the potential of the last few years" said Gough after Saturday's win “but it’s just great to finally get over that hurdle as we’ve always just fallen at the last but today we finally jumped it”. They got close in 2012 losing the final to Kilmacud Crokes and this was their first final since that loss.
As tough as a championship is to win given their stellar line up, questions would have been asked had this bunch of players not delivered at some stage. Inter county defenders Cian O’Callaghan and Paul Schutte form a tough back bone to the side while Darragh O’Connell is a running threat in the middle. Dubs dead ball specialist David Treacy and Colm Cronin run amok in the forwards along with 2015 All Star nominee Mark Schutte. Teenager Sean Treacy’s two goals in the county final has also announced his arrival at senior grade.
By the time Schutte takes the field on Sunday in Offaly we’ll know whether or not he’ll be an All Star but one thing is for sure, Coolderry won’t stand off and admire his skills or those of his team mates. Joe Brady’s move to the edge of the squad proved the difference for Coolderry in their county final win over St Rynagh's.
Paul Schutte missed the county final due to a shoulder injury so Gough could find himself dropping from midfield to centre back to keep an eye on Brady, if he’s deployed at the front from the start on Sunday. The experienced Brian Carroll also requires minding and the man marking honour may fall on Tipperary man Shane Stapleton who’s come up against the best and come out the better in Dublin so far. (Listen out for Shane Stapleton’s brief intervention in Gough’s interview on this weekend's Rewind Podcast)
Due to work and family commitments Gough didn’t feature for Dublin in 2015 but says he’s eager to get back involved now; “I had a bad few years inter county but I know the player that I am and the potential that I have so it’s great to get out there and give 110 percent for my club. I ‘d be looking to back to county as soon as possible". Work commitments seem to be the overhanging issue and Gough wants to address those and get back in blue.
Having conquered Dublin, Gough will now set his sights on Leinster and the first hurdle is a high one as they go to Tullamore to take on Coolderry this Sunday.
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