Alan Keane has been involved in some of sport’s biggest days.
The Killererin man was between the sticks for Galway in 2001 when the county last tasted All-Ireland senior success in Croke Park.
He has also collected four county senior medals with his club since 1999 and now he wants to add a Connacht club medal this weekend.
A Garda, based and living in Oranmore, Alan has been in goal for his club since he was a teenager and he still loves pulling on the club jersey.
“I think I was 16 when I first played senior in goal for the club and 18 years later I am still at it and still enjoying it. 2010 has been going really well for us and our success is down to hard work and everyone giving 100 per cent to the cause.
“It is not rocket science and Tommie [Joyce] has been doing a great job all year as manager. It is hard going, but he has always done whatever is needed for us to be professionally prepared and in good shape for the big games.
“Some of our younger players like Tomás [Fahy], Colin [Forde], Michéal [Boyle] and Danniel [Mannion] have grown from boys into men in the past year or two and they are key players on the team now. Guys like those lads, and Declan Kelly [captain] have been leading the way this year and we will need more of the same this weekend.”
Alan, who married last February to camogie star Aoife Lynsky from Ardrahan, speaks highly of his club and his clubmates.
“There are no airs and graces with us. If you see one of us out, you’ll see a gang of us together, and we are very united as a group. We are all very level headed and we know what we have to do to get a result. At this time of year in particular, it is all about keeping possession and using it well. None of us has a Connacht club medal and that is something we intend changing this Sunday. It will probably be tit-for-tat between us and St Brigid’s, but we are confident as a group that we will do the business and win the club’s first title since 1978.
“We are a very small club and if we want to be successful, we all have to give it our best shot. It is not about any individuals. It is about the panel, our supporters, and the club itself being a success and that is what drives us on.”
