GAA Features

JOE recently caught up with Colm "Gooch" Cooper to talk about plans for retirement, a disappointing summer, the All-Ireland semi-finals, Joe Brolly and his love of US sports.

It was a disappointing summer Colm “Gooch” Cooper and Kerry.

Despite impressing during the qualifiers, the Kingdom and its main weapon of attack lost narrowly to the relentless northern marauders of Donegal in the battlefield of Croke Park in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Since then a disheartened Jack O’Connor called it a day, unconvinced that he can do more with the current Kerry crop.

Cooper has since turned his mind back to the day job, Dr.Crokes, his other sporting interests and his work promoting the laudable Opel Kits for Clubs programme as an ambassador.

A long time at the top

Recently JOE had the chance to speak to Cooper, the foremost forward of his generation, on all these things, but first the question had to be asked – if, at 29 years of age, after 10 years, eight All-Ireland finals, four All-Ireland medals and even All-Star awards, Cooper might get a bit weary of all the football played and give it a rest?

“Ah yeah of course you do! When you do something for 10 or 11 years you do get a bit weary,” says the red-headed corner-forward.

“But to be honest I’m enjoying my football now as much as I did when I started playing,” says Cooper who admits being in doldrums post the two-point defeat to the Ulster champions Donegal earlier this month.

“You kind of feel like not kicking a ball for a long time but, even in the couple of days that have gone by, you realise it’s a big part of your life and it’s something I enjoy doing – I feel like still have something to offer Kerry and as long as I can do that and I’m enjoying it I’ll certainly be on board.”

Teams are just so hungry to win now that they’re willing to explore any avenue to win.

A lot of football has been played and football has changed a lot since Cooper’s Championship debut 2002 when Armagh revolutionised the game beating Kerry in the final that year. What are the biggest changes in the game Cooper has seen in the last 10 years?

“I came in as a young naive 18 or 19-year-old just wanting to play, but even since that time I have seen huge changes, changes in terms of teams’ structures, teams’ set ups, even the fitness and intensity has gone to different levels,” says Cooper.

Kerry in the past have been accused being somewhat over-critical of teams that play a reactive brand of football to beat them and there is a hint of that criticism as Cooper, a slightly-built forward who has borne the brunt of that reactiveness over the years, elaborates on his answer.

“Teams are just so hungry to win now that they’re willing to explore any avenue to win. In fairness, that’s just a huge hunger thing by different counties to win and they’re willing to do anything to win and that’s just the way football has gone.”

Does that make it less enjoyable?

“I would say it makes it less enjoyable. It certainly makes it more challenging alright in terms of the way certain teams play because you could go out one Sunday and play lovely expansive football and you could come out the next week and it’s like playing on half a pitch it’s so tight and tenacious!” says Cooper bemused.

“But sure, that’s what you’re going to have when you’re competing for big success so it doesn’t come as a surprise to me. At times it makes things challenging but sure, anything worth winning has to be tough.”

Speaking of toughness, and the rough and tumble of being the marquée forward of a generation, who is the toughest defender Cooper has faced over the years?

“Oh Jesus! Where do I start?!?" laughs Cooper

“I’ve had great battles down the years with certain players...with Anthony Lynch in Cork and a few with Ryan McMenamin from Tyrone.

“The one fellah I hate marking though is one of our own – Marc O’Sé. He’s just a nightmare in training! I’d be thrown in against him a couple of nights in training and I wouldn’t be too comfortable because he is a pure footballer, he has excellent ability and is a good defender as well – he’s just the whole package.

“He’s probably the one guy I absolutely hate but I’ve had great battles with Lynch and McMenamin down through the years and some days you can get on top and some days they get on top of you, but that’s what it’s all about...” he says of two of his toughest rivals.

For the greater good of the Kingdom

In an otherwise disappointing summer Cooper did manage to beat fellow Kerry man Mikey Sheehy’s all-time scoring record. Does that sort of thing motivate him in any way?

“It doesn’t motivate me, to be honest with you, because I play football for enjoyment and success – to win All-Irelands; I’m not big on personal records,” says Cooper who then recounts talking to his friend Sheehy after the quarter-final against Donegal.

“I met him on the Sunday after the game and we were just talking about how disappointing it was to lose, we didn’t even speak about the record thing but look he’s an absolute gentleman and I’m a long way off Mikey Sheehy’s status so I won’t be worried about that!”

“In Kerry...you should be competing and competitive to win All-Irelands every year, it didn’t work out the past few years, but that’s not going to stop us competing to win next year.”

The feeling towards individual awards extends to not being awarded the Footballer of the Year in any of his 10 years playing for Kerry as well.

“Because I haven’t won Footballer of the Year doesn’t make me feel any less appreciated...that’s not something I’ll stay awake at night worrying about when my career is over!”

Cooper says that what himself and the other Kerry players are motivated by is the demanding culture and legacy that is the heritage of Kerry football.

“There’s an inner pride thing that motivates you” says Cooper who mentions being influenced as a young player by Darragh O’Sé and Seamus Moynihan and their “steeliness and mental toughness,” before sending out this ominous message for other counties

“In Kerry...you should be competing and competitive to win All-Irelands every year, it didn’t work out the past few years, but that’s not going to stop us competing to win next year.”

Answering the critics on the couch

Paul Galvin gave an emotional pitch-side interview following Kerry’s win over Tyrone, Kerry had been hurt he said after Joe Brolly’s criticism of Kerry and specific criticism of Colm Cooper. A lot of GAA fans had been outraged too that the Sunday Game analyst was so robust in his criticism of a side that had played in 8 All-Irelands in 10 years. Many feel they have lived up to the considerable legacy of past Kerry teams.

Given the pride that is taken in the Kerry legacy, and that Cooper’s Kerry achievements still stack up against any other’s in the history of the GAA, was Cooper annoyed with Brolly’s dismissive attitude?

“Well look Joe is entitled to his opinion, he’s an analyst and he’s been watching football for many years whether it’s dismissive or what - that’s up to other peoples’ perceptions,” says Cooper matter-of-factly.

“To be honest it didn’t bother me in the slightest because if I had listened to analysts over the past few years I have gone from being the best footballer in the country to being finished to a guy that hasn’t done it and has choked! So I’ve heard it all at this stage, I just get on with my football and if guys want to analyse they can analyse.”

...a few things went wrong against Donegal and if that happens in the big days in Croke Park - you’ll get found out

Cooper speaks on Galvin’s emotional interview to TV3 in which he directly responded to Brolly’s attacks.

“Paul wears his heart on his sleeve and is a proud Kerry man and it certainly was effecting and hurting guys...and that’s fine too – that’s a good thing in a way, because it shows people care, but you’re going to have analysts giving you plaudits one day and criticising you another and that’s just all part of the game,” says Cooper in a balanced tone, that suggests that criticism is usually water off a duck’s back to him.

Cooper says that he finds a lot of teams respond positively to these criticisms but when questioned on whether analysis of Gaelic football today is reductive and basic, he admits that sometimes the pundits need to ease up a little.

“Look is it right or wrong? I don’t know – my only worry is that these are amateur guys getting up and going to work in the morning.

“I don’t think they should be subjected to some of the criticism that goes on – I think analysts are there and analysing is fine but going over the top isn’t on and people should find the right balance.”

Defeat to the northern marauders

After the defeat of Tyrone many, including Cooper, felt momentum was with Kerry, you ask him to pinpoint what went wrong against Kerry?

“I thought we were going in the right direction...just a few things went wrong against Donegal and if that happens in the big days in Croke Park - you’ll get found out.

“Just looking back in the cold light of the day – Bryan Sheehan and Eoin Brosnan having to go off - they’re two big players for us...those little things going wrong – they can have a big impact and we weren’t that far off Donegal when all was said and done, so just those little things...”

Cooper will be watching the rest of the Championship intently but finds it impossible to call between the top four teams in the country at the moment

“I think if you look at the four teams left they all have very honest credentials. If you look at Cork, who have an excellent squad, they feel like they lost out last year, they’ll feel very strong,” says Cooper before rattling through an assessment of each of the semi-final teams.

“If you look at Dublin they’re coming in under the radar because they’re not playing all that well. Laois put it up to them and Wexford previous to that, but maybe the expectations drop a bit now which could suit Dublin.

“Mayo had a very comfortable win over Down so they’ll be confident and Donegal took a big scalp in Kerry so they’ve all got live credentials.

“I think both semi-finals are going to be very, very hard to call. I think all the semi-finals are going to be very similar to the Kerry-Donegal game and I wouldn’t have a clear favourite at the moment.”

You honestly couldn’t call one side? You ask cheekily.

Cooper laughs.

“No it’s just too close to call I think!”

Codes other than the Kingdom’s

With the Championship out of the way Cooper is looking forward to indulging a few of his other sporting passions in the next few months.

Colm’s older brother Mark cruelly encouraged him to support Liverpool as a child. It’s the team he still follows today in soccer he says.

“One of my brothers was a big Liverpool fan so I just followed them and I suppose. In the 80s they were going well, but it was more to do with the fact that they had a bit of an Irish connection – John Aldridge, Ray Houghton and Ronnie Whelan - I loved watching those lads and I just stuck with it but I haven’t had much to shout about the last couple of years! But we remain loyal – I just hope the new boss will be able to put his own stamp on it.”

Kobe Bryant in the basketball is just a phenomenal guy in what he has done and how he trains and what he’s won!

The Cooper household is harshly divided when it comes to soccer, Colm then reveals.

“The rest of them are United supporters – we get some fair craic out of them but we remain loyal!”

You suggest the Colm has enjoyed enough success in Gaelic football to put up with the disappointment soccer and Liverpool provides.

Colm laughs, “Yes, exactly!”

Many would associate Cooper’s partner-in-crime up front for Kerry and Tralee Tiger man Kieran Donaghy with basketball, but a cursory glance at Cooper’s Twitter account shows he is a big basketball fan too.

“I like America to be honest. I like their sports, I like the NFL too and I’ll watch a fair bit of that over the next few months when it starts off.

“The basketball is one I love to go and see matches of. I just think they’re some incredible athletes – I think we could all learn something from them in terms of their ability and how driven they are for success – albeit that they’re on about 100million a year – but that’s another story!” he laughs.

It turns out that Cooper is a big fan of both Boston franchises in the NBA and NFL, following the New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.

It’s from the Patriots and the Celtic’s bitter rivals the LA Lakers that Cooper derives his heroes from outside Gaelic football.

“[Tom] Brady at the Patriots and Kobe Bryant in the basketball is just a phenomenal guy in what he has done and how he trains and what he’s won!

"He’s won it all in the game and he just keeps coming back for more – you just have to admire a guy like that.”

The passing of a Kerry great

Another man who had Cooper’s admiration was Con Houlihan. The Castleisland journalist chronicled Kerry’s great achievements over the years, prior to passing away last month.

I’ve played for Dr. Crokes all my life and love being involved with the club set up every bit as much as being involved with Kerry

Cooper was one of the few Kerry GAA greats that Houlihan didn’t have dealings with, nevertheless Cooper was a keen admirer of the writer whose loss was felt deeply in Kerry.

“I only read his column during the week and he was an outstanding sportswriter, I suppose we hate to see our own Kerry men go and Con was an outstanding writer and very well respected around the country and it’s just sad to see him go.”

For Club as much as County

The loss of Houlihan was felt keenly in the Kingdom. Though he lived for many years in Dublin, he never stopped being a Castleisland Kerry man.

Who you are is intrinsically tied up with where you come from. It’s something Cooper holds true and part of the reason he got involved with Opel’s Kits for Clubs campaign to support local GAA clubs

“Opel approached me and given my love of football and my profile I was delighted to get involved,” he says.

“I’ve played for Dr. Crokes all my life and love being involved with the club set up every bit as much as being involved with Kerry,” which is a big commitment coming from the most-established forward in intercounty football.

“Things like that I like getting involved with at the clubs because that’s the real grassroots of the GAA and that’s what it is all about.”

To highlight how closely he holds his club to his heart Cooper recently gave a visiting GAA club from Spain a tour around Dr. Crokes.

“It was quite funny they were from La Coruña and they have forty-something members and only one of them is Irish, the rest of them are Spanish. They were in Killarney so I gave them a tour of our own club, Dr. Crokes, the clubhouse and the history of it” says Cooper.

“They seemed to be blown away by it so it was nice to see that.”

You ask Cooper did the Spaniards know of the profile of their slightly-built, red-haired tour guide?

“Well they knew I was big footballer in Ireland and they had friends in Cork who they visited before as well so I’m not sure what the Cork lads told them about me!” laughs Cooper.

“They were also aware of the Kerry thing but not so much of the club and the history, the pictures on the wall and how long it had been there - so I think that’s where they were blown away by it.”

Colm Cooper has blown away a lot of defenders and fans since his debut in the All-Ireland Championship a decade ago.

There’s a small relief that as another summer draws to a close he has confirmed he intends to do so again in the summers to come.

For information on Kit for Clubs logon to: www.opelkitforclubs.com or visit Opel’s Kit for Clubs Facebook page: www.facebook.com/opelkitforclubs