From scorer to keeper, Clement Cunniffe stars at both ends of the field for Leitrim
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Long serving player thrilled to see Leitrim return to Croke Park for Lory Meagher Cup Final against Longford
Time catches up with all sports people, maybe with the exception of keepers and after vowing a few times that his days lining out with the Green & Gold were over, Clement Cunniffe returns to Croke Park next Sunday as the Leitrim hurlers seek to win the Lory Meagher Cup for a second time.
When gently ribbed by the Observer about his proclamation in 2019 that his playing days were done, Clement laughingly replied “I think I've said that a few times. Let me see, I'm 43 now and it's just great to get out twice a week, to keep moving. It's very enjoyable. Mick has a great set-up here. And just clearing the head during the week. Just to be involved with the lads is great.”
That is the crucial factor in Clement’s longevity, that he is still enjoying the game as much as ever! “You appreciate it more as you get older. When you're younger, you think, in football, hurling or any kind of code, you think to try again next year or something. But when you are getting on in years now, it's enjoyable just to be still involved and I love hurling.”
A man that once carried Leitrim’s scoring burden in his outfield days, Clement is now trying to prevent scores, quite a contrast as he admits: “Being in goals, it's a tight spot and it's very different from being outfield. If you're playing in defence or further outfield, you still want the ball but in goals, it's kind of strange, you don't want the ball near you. I don't think too many goalies are made to look good, you can only be made to look bad sometimes. It's a different kind of pang of nervousness you get in goal. I never played in goals up until probably two years ago and I have a different respect for it, it's a different discipline.
“You have to get behind the ball and you're thinking about your clearance before you get behind the ball and whatever else. There is pressure in taking frees but I think you're allowed to miss frees, do you know what I mean? Especially if they're out the field, if they're hard frees, you're allowed to miss them. But when you're in goals, there are certain responsibilities on you, concrete decisions you have to make to clear the sliothar and the team depends on you, that kind of way.”
For all that, Clement is enjoying his time with Leitrim, particularly with his three kids among his greatest supporters! “Definitely enjoyable to be in there - I have three young kids now and they're so mad about it, they love coming to games. You can hear them at the games, they enjoy it and to be able to do it for them is great. I don't want to say I'm coming towards the end, but I'm in the twilight. I'm playing against lads that could be over 25 years younger than me so you just appreciate all that and you're just grateful and thankful to be still involved and healthy to be able to play, to be honest.
“I love hurling. It's just great to be involved and it makes you grateful and thankful for what you have and to have a chance here to go up and express ourselves and play the game we love, that's the bottom line.”
Longford pose a stiff challenge to Leitrim’s ambitions but Clement relishes that took: “The derby element makes it more enjoyable and Longford are a good team. You don't want to be playing a team that you're expected to walk over or something like that and that's not going to be the case against Longford. That last game against Longford in Pairc Sean a few weeks ago, I know we won, but I thought it was a great game. I’d say it was a great game to watch but that's what you want. You got to get stuck in. I've the highest respect for Longford and from going back to playing them at underage level, you never had an easy game against them.”
The Leitrim keeper expects a tough game but he is confident that the Green & Gold can taste glory in Croke Park: “We're on a roll, you can't but be confident, but you have to be careful as well. You can't take everything for granted, you take it one step at a time. It is one game on its own, that's what I'm looking at and I'm just going to do my job in goal, that's what I'm responsible for, I'll do the best of my abilities. I'll do my own job as best I can but I'm just grateful and thankful to be there.”