THIS week we heard the news that my former coaching colleague and good friend Turlough O’Brien had stepped down as Carlow senior manager after six great years managing his beloved county.

It was clear to see the high regard that the man was held in throughout his own county and beyond with the volume of GAA and non-GAA personalities who were quick to congratulate him on his tenure and wish him well in the future.

On Saturday, November 14 2015, I pulled into St Columban’s, Kilkeel to open the school for my annual coach education clinic I had been running since 2009. When I arrived nearly 90 minutes before the day was due to commence, a small white van was already in the car park with a CW registration. As it turned out, the occupants were Turlough O’Brien and his most loyal and trusty sidekick Tommy Wogan. The two gentlemen introduced themselves to me and I was struck instantly in the passion and love they had for football.

Roll on a few months, and after an exchange of emails, Turlough invited me down to Carlow on Sunday, May 1 2016 to take a guest session with the Carlow senior footballers. The wife and I decided that because it was bank holiday weekend in the North, we would stay down Saturday and Sunday and make a short weekend of it with the children.

Turlough and Tommy joined us for a glass of wine on the Saturday evening and we chatted all things football. We instantly connected and a great friendship was to grow from there. Further trips south in 2016 before their Qualifier games against Wicklow and Cavan followed and I assumed my affiliation with Carlow was over, but it had only just begun.

In the autumn of 2016, Turlough made contact again but this time it was a different conversation, he wanted me to come on board full time as football coach for 2017.

It was a huge commitment but also a wonderful opportunity for me to work in a different province at senior inter-county level. It was the best decision I ever made.

I travelled down to the Talbot Hotel at Halloween that year and such was Turlough’s level of detail, he presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Carlow senior squad that evening and in that presentation was a family tree with everyone’s roles on the management team clearly defined. He was a man who prided himself on his meticulous detail.

Turlough was such a proud Carlovian, he loved the county, not just from a footballing perspective, and was very proud to be managing his county. He is extremely humble in every way.

We hit some early speed bumps in the 2017 National League but ended up winning four of our last five games. ‘Turlo’ was convinced the county was in great shape heading into the championship.

A month later at home to Wexford in the first round of the Leinster Championship, Carlow got their first provincial win in seven years.

As the players partied hard with supporters where was Turlough? He was cycling down the barrow way reflecting on a great win. A phone call from Des Cahill to shoot up to Dublin to attend The Sunday Game as a guest was duly accepted and he presented himself with great pride and distinction, speaking so proudly and passionately about Carlow and what it meant to be facing the Dubs.

That summer was Carlow’s longest championship run in 75 years and included wins against Leitrim and London. A narrow defeat against Monaghan live on Sky Sports had the county falling just one step shy of an All Ireland last 12.

Turlough spoke consistently throughout the later stages of that summer about the clear progression he could see but it was his unyielding belief that really got my attention.

This man believed in the group of players he had, he cared deeply about them, not just as players but also as people. He put the person first, the player second.

That’s what made 2018 so special, Carlow’s first promotion in nearly 40 years followed by championship demolitions of Louth and Kildare gave Turlough days he’d never seen before. Days he dreamed about when he cycled around the county delivering mail for his father who was Carlow county secretary and one of the founders of Turlough’s beloved Eire Og.

To see the pitch invasion in Tullamore, to see the joy and smile on the man’s face as the Carlow team bus drove into Croke Park that year for the national finals and semi-finals, was priceless. I only harbour one regret and that was that I never got to see that joy the man would have had if we had reached a Leinster final.

I cannot begin to express the gratitude, respect and honour I have for him. He offered me the opportunity to coach at senior inter-county level outside of my own county, he supported and backed me through thick and thin, offered me words of wisdom when needed, calmed me down, argued with me, shared a laugh, shared a beer, had many a night’s craic and chat about football – including one famous night in his shed that continued into the very early hours of the morning.

Turlough did more than he needed to do for the family and I and developed into a really good friend.

The great John Wooden use to say, “time spent comparing yourself to others is time spent wasted.” Don’t try and be someone you aren’t, everyone has their own unique personality and qualities. Believe and trust in yourself.

Turlough O’Brien has his own way, his own personality, he certainly didn’t put on a show in front of the cameras.

He was always himself and happily spoke to the media through thick and thin and wasn’t afraid to express his opinion in his own colourful way. It’s a pity he has retired, the game is lost for a bit of colour and character and he certainly brought it in abundance, just like Carlow’s jersey. All the very best ‘Turlo’.

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