For someone whose season was shaped by a chance opportunity, Robert Downey wouldn't feel that 2021 was a particularly lucky year.
Having taken the Cork full-back jersey after Damien Cahalane's bout of appendicitis, Downey seized his chance and before the All-Ireland final was described by Irish Times hurling analyst, Nicky English, as "in the conversation for an All Star".
Limerick’s ‘shock and awe’ display put paid to that – and to the credentials of everyone else on the Cork team.
A few weeks later his club Glen Rovers were beaten for a third successive year in the county final but he’s reluctant to see it all as one big continuum of disappointment.
“Ah no,” says Downey. “For me, I suppose they were two separate events in my head. At that stage I was after forgetting about the All-Ireland final. We were after playing a couple of games since then.
“If you’re looking back at the year as a whole, they’re probably two big disappointments but when I was playing in the county final, to be honest with you, the All-Ireland final was behind me at that stage.”
He’s not even convinced about his serendipitous emergence as a full back.
“I’m not too sure what Kieran’s plans are, where to play me or whether I’m in the starting 15. I kind of prefer playing in the half-back line. But you wouldn’t mind where you play.”
He won the Fitzgibbon Cup in his first season, two years ago – the last time it was played – and next Wednesday, UCC take on Limerick powerhouse, Mary Immaculate College of Education in their opening 2022 fixture.
“When the groups came out I said, ‘we’re after getting the hardest group’ but I’m not so sure – every game in the Fitzgibbon is hard. I think we’ve two away games and one at home.”
He doesn't necessarily support ring-fencing college players from their county teams during the Fitzgibbon season but acknowledges that having his college coach and intercounty manager – Tom Kingston and Kieran Kingston – as brothers helps reaching an accommodation.
“It’s a hard one. I probably think it would put too much pressure on a given team. With UCC, we’d have a lot of players on the Cork set-up, so that would put Cork under fierce pressure for the league.
“It’s a balancing act. I’d probably opt against it but it could be something that’s tried some time in the future.”
Robert Downey was speaking at a virtual media briefing to promote the Electric Ireland Fitzgibbon Cup.
