Eddie Brennan will have a few tough hurling decisions to make in the coming months, but for the time being he’s just enjoying the moment.
On Sunday the 40 year old was a key player for Graigue Ballycallan as they won the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Championship.
There’s a strong pull on the eight-time All-Ireland winner to stay around for one more season and try his hand at senior again.
There’s also the fact that Graigue Ballycallan have a Leinster campaign to look forward to, starting on Saturday in Callan against Kildare champions Celbridge. Not that anyone is getting ahead of themselves, but Kilkenny clubs have played in nine of the 14 All-Ireland inter club finals - winning six.
But in the middle of all this Brennan is having to get his head around his new post as Laois hurling manager and shortly he’ll be getting them together to plan for next year’s League and Joe McDonagh Cup campaigns.
"That’s the reality," he said. "Next Saturday started to drift into the heads on Monday morning - we were enjoying ourselves, but it was there in the back of our minds.
"We have to have our heads right for Celbridge straight away because they’re a serious outfit - I remember two years ago Carrickshock only just got over the line against them in a Leinster final.
"We are representing the county and we want to do that right, and there’s also a massive prize available at the end of it."
When asked would he line out at senior in 2019, he said: "I don’t know, I don’t know… I have to be fair because I’ve made a commitment to Laois. Whatever I do it’ll be a balancing act and I wouldn’t be able to do it without the great support I get at home from my wife Olivia."
An emotional @NedzerB13 speaks to #GAABEO after his Graigue - Ballycallan side came back from behind to beat Tullaroan in the Kilkenny Intermediate Hurling Final. #GAA #GAABEO #TG4 @ballsdotie @The42_ie @SportsJOEdotie pic.twitter.com/UmeqQNF8vk
— GAA BEO TG4 (@GAA_BEO) October 30, 2018
Brennan finished up with Kilkenny in 2011 and two years later, the only year he was club captain, Graige Ballycallan were relegated from the senior ranks to intermediate.
In 2000, as a much younger man, he was part of the club side that won the Kilkenny senior title and played in the All-Ireland club final the following St Patrick's Day, though he says their drift backwards started around 2008.
This year he settled for playing a bit of junior, but when that went well - they won the league and championship this summer - he spoke to senior manager Declan Browne, the former Tipperary football All Star, about stepping back up to inter.
"I said to Deccie that if he wanted me on the bench or whatever, I’ll be there. If I was playing, great, and if I wasn’t I wouldn’t be grumbling in the background."
On Sunday Graigue Ballycallan beat their neighbours Tullaroan amidst emotional scenes at Nowlan Park.
Charming footage was broadcast of Brennan greeting his young son Harry on the pitch after the final whistle and he also shared a quiet moment with his former Cats team mate Tommy Walsh, who was part of the Tullaroan side.
"What can you say?" asked Brennan. "The emotions are worlds apart. We shook hands and embraced and with a team-mate like that you don’t need to say too much, just be respectful. That’s one thing we learned under Brian Cody - always respect the opposition.
"With Harry, I’m involved with coaching the Under-7s and the Under-9s and it was a big win for the young lads in the club - they have seen what a bit of success looks like.
"Our Under-13s swept all before them in Kilkenny this year and for us to be winning Roinn A for us is massive. Winning might mean that some of the lads who were on the fringes, or not that interested, might come back down to the field.
"If we managed to hold on to that team it could really set the club up in a few years time."
