Harrison Brewer wants Terenure to avoid ‘one hit wonder’ tag in AIL final
Terenure College's Harrison Brewer is tackled by Lansdowne's George Kenny during the Leinster Senior Cup final at Energia Park last September. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
There was a time in the not too distant past when Terenure dreamed of winning just one of Cork Con’s six Energia All-Ireland League (AIL) titles, but since getting the monkey off their back last year, the landscape has changed.
The trophy has resided in Dublin for the last two seasons, but Con are determined to break the stranglehold by dethroning Terenure as champions, and in process, move within two of Shannon’s all-time record (nine).
It has been a season of change at Lakelands, with a raft of new players and coaches, yet ’Nure’s aspirations have remained the same under Seán Skehan, which is a testament to the strong body of work that the club has done over the last few years.
It’s been a similar story at Temple Hill, with former Munster out-half Jonny Holland now very much established as head coach.
Holland’s side finished a point behind their final opponents in the regular season table, but such is their rich pedigree, Con will relish the big occasion at the Aviva Stadium.
For ’Nure, it’s all about proving that last season’s memorable success was not a flash in the pan, yet with inspirational captain Harrison Brewer driving things once again, they have coped well with the target on their backs.
“We were chatting about it the other night and for us it’s trying to not be that one hit wonder,” Brewer said.
“We want to be remembered like that Shannon back-to-back side in the early 2000s. We’ve spoken about it all week, to not be a one hit wonder. Getting back to the final is nice but you’ve got to do the business and bring the pot home, to be remembered like that Shannon side.
“It was big for us to get back [to the final], but there was no real difference between the two years, it was all business. We used that slogan from last year, and the same applies for this year.”
Considering Terenure are on a 13-match winning run, it will require something special for Con to get the job done, but in out-half James Taylor and hot-stepping winger Matthew Bowen, they have two exciting young players who can provide the spark.
Terenure, though, have forgotten what it’s like to lose, and that may just tip the balance in their favour.
Verdict: Terenure
Terenure v Cork Con,
Live, TG4, tomorrow, 4.0
