In 2004, Eamonn Ryan was admitted to a three month treatment programme for prostate cancer. And the midway point of his recovery happened to coincide with his first official training session as the newly appointed manager of the Cork Ladies senior football team. But despite the turmoil of a cancer diagnosis, Ryan insisted on being there out of "thickness really".
He didn't know it yet, but Eamonn Ryan was about to embark on an 11 year journey with the Cork Ladies team that would carve out a patch of dominance and glory previously unseen in the GAA. But even after all these years, the players who were there at the very beginning of the Ryan era, can still recall the enthusiasm he exuded in those first few training sessions when his body was still processing the treatment.
Is Eamonn Ryan the key to @CorkLGFA's success? Cora Staunton spoke to @offtheball #bethediff http://t.co/vlENMFUoff pic.twitter.com/TudBWnSLpo
— Newstalk Sport (@NewstalkSport) September 25, 2015
In today's edition of the Sunday Indpendent, an extract of a recently published book entitled Relentless, revisits the early days of Ryan's appointment and how his refusal to be daunted by cancer, quickly earned the respect of the players. And in the same vein, his defiance in the face of adversity soon permeated the team's style of play.
RT @SeoSpoirtTG4: Agglamh bhreá @diarmuidlyng le Banisteoir ban-pheilidóirí Chorcaí Eamonn Ryan #seospoirt inniu 7.30 pic.twitter.com/viE1pOZ1qL
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 28, 2015
In it, retired Cork footballer Juliet Murphy said:
"I knew he was getting treatment when he first came on board and was still coming to training. so he led by absolute example and through complete modesty. There was never an announcement that he wasn't feeling great, he just got on with it in his quiet, respectful way, and we responded to that. He was coming from such a genuine place and it made all the difference to us".
That first training session took place on a dreary February evening on a pitch where only one floodlight was present. But despite the lack of facilities and inclement weather conditions, Ryan's positive nature illuminated the setting, which provided the perfect platform for Cork to persevere and build on their potential.
Well done Juliet! 4 Rebels history made today starting & finishing ALL 8 finals Murphy, Harte, Corkery & Stack #lgfa pic.twitter.com/DKp2HsAZFl"
— Alan O Connell (@family_guy_alan) September 29, 2013
Murphy continues:
"It was so enjoyable. We'd bare light and Eamonn was saying, 'Careful now, don't bump into each other, careful now'. He'd bring us in every so often and say something constructive or tweak something. He was so animated and we'd go back out and try and impress him again. We were all so enthusiastic. Whatever we did, he was praising us loads.'
Relentless, penned by sports journalist Mary White, documents the rise of the rebellette movement from the days when players were just barely tolerating one another, to the more recent years where the notion of Cork winning All-Ireland titles has almost become an assumed reality.
